Prison Accommodation

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031; we have already delivered c.3,300 of these since taking office. These places are being delivered through the Prison Supply Programmes, which had already delivered around 6,000 places at the point of the 10-Year Capacity Strategy’s publication. The change from 20,000 to 14,000 therefore does not represent a change in scope. The 14,000 places are being delivered through the construction of new prisons, the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate, and temporary accommodation.

The Small Secure Houseblocks Project will deliver 1,080 prison places across six Category C prisons. This comprises 240 places at HMP Lancaster Farms, 240 at HMP Northumberland, 180 at HMP Erlestoke, 180 at HMP Onley, 120 at HMP Humber and 120 at HMP Ranby.

The construction phase of the Small Secure Houseblocks Programme (SSH) is expected to deliver local community benefits through social value commitments agreed with contractors. These include opportunities for local employment and apprenticeships, use of local suppliers and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) where appropriate, skills and training activity, and engagement with local communities. This approach is consistent with wider prison build programmes, where construction has supported local jobs, supply chains and training opportunities, including for prison leavers. The programme will continue to work with its delivery partners to maximise these benefits during construction.