Changes to planning rules will unblock unnecessary future delays
to prisons being built, as the Government paves the way to open
up 14,000 new prison places and keeping dangerous offenders
locked up our streets safe.
The move forms part of a 10-year prison capacity strategy, part
of the wider Plan for Change, set to be unveiled by the Lord
Chancellor, , on Wednesday.
The proposed reforms will put an end to lengthy delays in the
planning process which are stopping new prisons from being built
as quickly as needed.
Reflecting their critical importance to public protection,
changes to the planning process will make sure significant
importance is placed on building new prisons. The Government will
also continue its expansion and upgrades in the current estate,
noting the role jails play in keeping the public safe.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary , said:
“The inaction and inertia that brought our prison system to the
brink of collapse must never be repeated. As part of our Plan for
Change, we will get shovels in the ground quicker so we get the
prison places needed to take dangerous offenders off our streets.
“Just this week we've approved a new prison in Lancashire,
showing this government will deliver on its promises. But we
can't simply build our way out of this crisis. That is why we've
also launched a sentencing review to ensure we never run out of
prison space again.”
The prison population has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -
but in the 14 years to April 2024, the number of available prison
places only grew by 500.
As part of its commitment to creating 14,000 places, the
Government has already matched that total opening up an extra 500
places since coming into office.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government gave the go ahead for HMP Garth in Lancashire, on
greenbelt land, after three years and four months stuck in the
planning system. This will allow for around 1700 prison places to
be built on the site.
HMP Garth is not the only site that has faced long delays in
getting approval. New prison sites in Leicestershire and
Buckinghamshire were stuck in the planning system for two years
five months and two and a half years, respectively. Without these
delays around 5,000 additional places would have been available
in new prisons by 2027.
New figures published this week also revealed that delays to
prison expansion plans are expected to add at least £4.2bn above
original estimates.
This week's Prison Capacity Strategy will work alongside the
Government's recently launched landmark Sentencing Review,
ensuring the country always has the space needed to keep the
public safe.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
· The cost estimate for
planning delays was produced Q3 2023 and is based on BCIS All-In
TPI index.
· The Ministry of Housing and
Local Government intends to publish the response to an ongoing
consultation and revised National Planning Policy Framework later
this year.
