180 new prison places to be created at HMP Guys Marsh
Two new houseblocks are being built
HMP Guys Marsh will be part of an unprecedented expansion and refurbishment programme, creating more than 4,000 new prison places across the country the Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has announced today.
These new places are part of the Government’s £4bn investment to create 20,000 modern and innovative prison places, ensuring the right conditions are in place to rehabilitate prisoners.
HMP Guys Marsh will receive two new houseblock expansions creating over 180 new prison places. In total, eight prisons will receive new houseblocks while HMP High Down in Surrey will see a brand-new workshop. The new designs will mean easier access to supporting facilities such as healthcare, kitchens and staff offices which will help to protect frontline staff and clamp down on crime behind bars.
New workshops and classrooms will also see offenders getting vital work and training so they are able to find work on release.
Seven other prisons will also receive comprehensive refurbishments part of a wider ÂŁ150m investment in the estate to help bring all jails into the 21st century.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, said:
“Our prison-building programme will deliver an extra 20,000 prison places by the mid-2020s to punish offenders, deter crime and protect the public.
“We are also overhauling the prison regime, using prison design, in cell technology, abstinence-based drug rehabilitation and work to drive down re-offending.”
Construction at two new prisons, which are part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment to build six modern jails, has already created more than 500 jobs and over 70 apprenticeships. When the two prisons open, they are expected to offer over a thousand permanent jobs – providing a significant boost to the local economy. Thousands of jobs will also be created at the sixteen sites planned for expansion through the building process and the additional prison officer roles required.
These modern jails – and the new blocks announced – will also cut reoffending and protect the public by giving prisoners the education, skills and addiction support they need to live crime-free lives on release.