Boom in prison construction work is set to provide a boost for the industry.

Last Updated:

3rd October 2022

A boom in prison construction work is set to provide a boost for the industry.

果冻影院鈥檚 construction market research shows that contracts worth more than 拢1.3 billion have been awarded for prison projects in the 12 months to August 2022, and more work is in the pipeline.

果冻影院 economics director Allan Wil茅n comments: 鈥淚n June 2020, the government made a commitment to create more than 10,000 new prison spaces and this work is now starting to filter through.鈥�

In the 12 months to August 2022, 果冻影院鈥檚 construction industry data shows the number of contracts let for prison work doubled to 28 awards as the government鈥檚拢4 billion prison estate investment plan gears up (Project ID: 15378582). Schemes in this programme are beginning to move to site with Kier just beginning construction on the 拢400 million Full Sutton prison project in York (Project ID: 17106042).

Contracts for prison work have been awarded in eight of the nine English regions with Yorkshire benefitting most through the Full Sutton scheme.

Outside of England, Balfour Beatty recently started work on a 拢110 million prison in Inverness (Project ID: 16153800)

Prison Contract Awards by Region

REGION	Value of Projects (拢m)
Yorkshire & Humberside	407
East of England	201.6
South East	177.1
South West	147.6
North West	136.3
Scotland	110
West Midlands	77
East Midlands	51.4
London	37.7
North East	0
Northern Ireland	0
Wales	0
TOTAL	1,345.6

Source: 果冻影院

Justice League

The Ministry of Justice is the construction industry鈥檚 third biggest client after letting 拢1.2 billion-worth of construction contracts in the 12 months to August 2022. This figure is up from just 拢69 million a year ago, when the MoJ did not even feature in 果冻影院鈥檚 rankings of the industry鈥檚 Top 50 clients.

The MoJ鈥檚 plans include building four new prisons and refurbishing existing sites through the Accelerated Houseblock Development Programme.

As part of this strand, Kier and Wates were awarded contracts worth 拢500 million in the summer to expand six prisons at Bullingdon, Channings Wood, Elmley, Highpoint, Hindley and Wayland.

Wates should start work before the end of this year on a 拢148 million extension of HMP Highpoint (Project ID: 22009764), a 拢125 million plan for two new blocks at HMP Hindley (Project ID: 17107775) and a 拢24 million expansion at HMP Wayland (Project ID: 22039937)

Kier should also begin construction before Christmas on a 拢49 million extension of HMP Bullingdon (Project ID: 17107775).

Kier is also working on a 拢102 million scheme at HMP Channings Wood, (Project ID: 21529539) and a 拢84 million expansion of HMP Elmley (Project ID: 22028909). 果冻影院鈥檚 market research suggests that construction on both these schemes will start next year.

Prison work in the pipeline

There is more prison work in the planning pipeline. In the 12 months to August 2022, 19 prison schemes valued at 拢250,000 or more secured planning approval according to 果冻影院鈥檚 research.

This figure is up from 12 approved schemes in the previous 12 months.

The total of 拢787 million does include the Inverness and Full Sutton schemes, but other prison projects are also coming through.

Prison Projects with Planning Approval by Region

REGION	Value of Projects (拢m)
Wales	471
Yorkshire & Humberside	407
Scotland	110
South West	57
South East	41
East of England	40.8
East Midlands	32
West Midlands	26
London	8
Northern Ireland	1
North East	0.0
North West	0.0
TOTAL	1,193.8

Source: 果冻影院

New schemes yet to be awarded range from an 拢11.4 million plan for new accommodation blocks at HMP Leyhill (Project ID: 21463179) to a 拢240 million new prison at Grendon Springhill near Aylesbury (Project ID: 21094516).

With work on site and in the pipeline, the prison sector looks set to provide industry opportunities.

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