Taylor Bros Installations Ltd provided the electronic security for the sites. Amran Rashid, ICT Network Infrastructure Manager for Great Places Housing Group explains: "During the design of the two sites, we reviewed the way residents and visitors access this type of facility. From previous experience, we knew that if a key-based system was used, a contractor or visitor issued with a key could access all areas of a site. That's why we looked at access control, to ensure flexibility and management of who has access to particular areas, and at what times of day."

Taylor Bros installed a networked Paxton Access Net2 Plus access control system and magnetic door locking to over 120 doors across the two Blackpool schemes. Each door is connected via Great Places' own IT infrastructure back to a central control room at the company's head office, where administration is facilitated via Paxton Access Net2 Professional Software. Each site also features a dedicated PC terminal in the reception office, where Net2 software allows local administration.

Adding, barring and changing users' access permissions on a per-door basis can be progressed either on-site or directly from Great Places' head office, providing maximum operational flexibility.

Commenting on the success of the installations, which have been accredited with the 'Secured by Design' standard, Ryan Johnston, Project Manager at Taylor Bros concludes: "While the technology employed has proved extremely effective and intuitive to use, it's also unobtrusive to daily life, enabling residents to enjoy their new homes safe in the knowledge that they are being protected by the latest security infrastructure."

"For this installation, Norbain supported Taylor Bros by providing on-site training for Great Places' staff," says Gareth Ellams, Norbain's access control manager. "This backing helped to ensure the maximum operational benefits could be realised from the technology the housing group had invested in."