- massive construction project to create thousands of jobs for
local communities
- latest step in government’s ambitious plans to create 20,000
places by mid-2020s, helping to cut crime and protect the public.
An unprecedented expansion and refurbishment programme will
create more than 4,000 new prison places across the country, the
Deputy Prime Minister announced today (18 February
2022).
These new places are part of the government’s £4 billion
investment to create 20,000 modern and innovative prison places,
ensuring the right conditions are in place to truly rehabilitate
prisoners. This will give prisoners the education, skills and
addiction support they need to live crime-free lives on release,
helping to cut crime and protect the public.
The 4,000 places announced today will be created across 16
prisons through the building of new wings and refurbishing jails.
They will create thousands of jobs for local communities,
boosting economies.
Subject to planning permission, 8 prisons will receive new
houseblocks while HMP High Down in Surrey will get a brand-new
workshop. The innovative designs will mean easier access to
supporting facilities such as healthcare, kitchens and staff
offices which will help to protect frontline staff and clamp down
on crime behind bars.
New workshops and classrooms will also see offenders getting
vital work and training so they are able to find employment on
release.
Seven other prisons will also receive comprehensive
refurbishments part of a wider £150 million investment in the
estate to help bring all jails into the 21st century.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary , said:
Our unprecedented prison-building programme is the largest in
more than a century and will deliver an additional 20,000 prison
places by the mid-2020s.
We are improving our existing prison estate, putting more
offenders behind bars, training them for release and protecting
the public.
Today’s news is the latest step in the government’s commitment to
create 20,000 modern and innovative prison places by the
mid-2020s.
Construction at 2 new prisons, which are part of the Deputy Prime
Minister’s commitment to build 6 modern jails,
has already created more than 500 jobs and over 70
apprenticeships When the two prisons open, they are expected to
offer over a thousand permanent jobs – providing a significant
boost to the local economy. Thousands of jobs will also be
created at the 16 sites planned for expansion through the
building process and the additional prison officer roles
required.
Notes to editors
- The prison population is expected to increase by 19,000 by
the mid-2020s as the government cracks down on crime and recruits
20,000 new police officers.
- At the same time in its recent Prisons White Paper,
the Ministry of Justice pledged to commence a large-scale
recruitment campaign for up to 5,000 additional prison officers
in public and private prisons by the mid-2020s.
- All plans to refurbish and expand existing jails will be
subject to planning permissions but the department already has
planning for 5 of the prisons, HMPs Stocken, Guys Marsh, High
Down, Birmingham and Liverpool.
- The Ministry of Justice has previously announced that
4 prisons would be
expanded to increase prison capacity. Today’s announcement
builds on this, with a total of 16 sites being expanded and
refurbished as part of the drive to create 20,000 new prison
places by mid-2020s.
- The 7 refurbishment sites are HMPs Norwich, Feltham,
Aylesbury, Haverigg and Swinfen Hall, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Four have already been completed.
- Sites due to receive additional houseblocks are HMPs
Bullingdon, Channings Wood, Elmley, Highpoint, Hindley, Wayland,
Guys Marsh, High Down (in the form of a workshop) and Stocken.
