With a significant move to address the UK’s pressing prison capacity crisis, the Ministry of Justice has unveiled a £2.3 billion strategy to create 14,000 new prison places over the next seven years.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the comprehensive 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy today, marking a dramatic shift in the government’s approach to correctional infrastructure.
The plan comes amid revelations that prison capacity increased by fewer than 500 places between 2010 and 2024, despite rising incarceration rates and longer sentences.
To expedite development, prisons will now be classified as “sites of national importance,” streamlining the often-lengthy planning process.
Elements of this New Strategy
The expansion programme includes:
- Four new prisons delivering 6,500 places
- Additional blocks at existing sites providing 6,400 spaces
- 1,000 rapid deployment cells
- Over 1,000 refurbished existing cells
- £500 million allocated for maintenance across prisons and probation services
Investment Breakdown
| Timeline | Investment | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | £220 million | Prison maintenance |
| 2025-2026 | £300 million | Safety and security |
| Next 2 years | £2.3 billion | New prison construction |
Planning Reform and Future-Proofing
The strategy introduces significant changes to planning regulations, with prisons now designated as infrastructure of national importance. This classification aims to prevent scenarios like the recent three-year planning delay for the HMP Garth expansion in Lancashire, which will eventually provide 1,700 new places.
“The last government pretended they could send people away for longer and longer without building the prisons they promised,”
said Lord Chancellor Mahmood, highlighting how previous plans were
“years delayed and nearly £5bn over budget.”
Transparency Measures
The government will publish an Annual Statement on Prison Capacity, providing updates to Parliament and the public. This will work alongside the Independent Sentencing Review, chaired by Rt Hon David Gauke, to ensure sustainable long-term planning.
For more information about the Prison Capacity Strategy and regular updates, visit the Ministry of Justice website.
Sources: THX News, Ministry of Justice & The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP.
