Prisons: Construction

Following the collapse of ISG Construction Limited, the Ministry of Justice activated contingency plans for affected projects. We remain committed to continuing the prison build programmes and to continuing to invest in prison maintenance so that existing places remain in use and are safe.

Construction projects to deliver maintenance and additional prison places were planned for completion by ISG Construction Limited at the following prisons:

• HMP Birmingham

• HMP Brinsford

• HMP Bristol

• HMP Bullingdon

• HMP Cardiff

• HMP Coldingley

• HMP Dartmoor

• HMP Durham

• HMP Erlestoke

• HMP Featherstone

• HMP Ford

• HMP Fosse Way

• HMP Foston Hall

• HMP Guy’s Marsh

• HMP Hatfield

• HMP Hewell

• HMP Highpoint

• HMP Humber

• HMP Huntercombe

• HMP Kirkham

• HMP Kirklevington Grange

• HMP Lancaster Farms

• HMP Leeds

• HMP Lewes

• HMP Leyhill

• HMP Liverpool

• HMP Long Lartin

• HMP Maidstone

• HMP Manchester

• HMP North Sea Camp

• HMP Preston

• HMP Prescoed

• HMP Risley

• HMP Rochester

• HMP Send

• HMP Springhill

• HMP Standford Hill

• HMP Stoke Heath

• HMP Sudbury

• HMP Swaleside

• HMP The Verne

• HMP Usk

• HMP Warren Hill

• HMP Winchester

• HMP Wymott

• The planned new prison in Buckinghamshire

Replacement contractors have been appointed on projects previously supplied by ISG and ESS, in line with contingency plans, with pre-construction work either now complete or ongoing.

The planned Category D Expansion at HMP Leyhill has since been descoped from the Prison Supply Programmes, but we continue to deliver c.100 Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs) at this site. The planned Category D Expansion at HMP Springhill has also been descoped from the Prison Supply Programmes. The RDCs at HMP Erlestoke and HMP The Verne that ISG were contracted to deliver are now complete.

As set out in the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, published December 2024, the initial assessment indicates that ISG’s administration is expected to result in delays of between three to 18 months for the affected maintenance and prison expansion programmes timelines. We continue to work with new contractors to minimise delay and accelerate delivery wherever possible, and we remain on track in our aim to deliver 14,000 additional prison places by 2031. We have already delivered c.3,100 new prison places since taking office.