New £209m Inverness prison to cost four times original amount

Back in 2011, it was originally estimated to cost £52m and was due to be finished in 2020

Artist impression of the new HMP Highland
Author: Liam RossPublished 5th Apr 2024
Last updated 5th Apr 2024

A new prison for the Highlands will cost more than four times its original value.

The Scottish Government have confirmed the £209m total and say it'll be completed in 2026.

A construction contract has been signed with Balfour Beatty to complete the work.

Based at Eastfield Way in Inverness the building will accommodate 200 prisoners, which is around 100 more than the current facility's capacity at Porterfield.

It was originally estimated to cost £52m in 2011 and was due to be finished in 2020.

Set to be Scotland's first net-zero prison, it will include improved education and health facilities to help with rehabilitation.

The current HMP Inverness is one of the smallest and oldest prisons in Scotland, dating back to 1902.

Concerns have been raised about overcrowding at Porterfield and how outdated it is for many years.

But with £60m worth of supply chain investment coming to Highland with the project, Justice Secretary Angela Constance has welcomed the update.

She said: "Signing this contract marks a significant milestone for the Highlands, which will not only provide much needed additional capacity and continue the modernisation of Scotland’s prison estate but will also provide investment and jobs to the area.

"HMP Highland will deliver safe and secure accommodation with better education and health facilities to help with rehabilitation and reduce offending.

"It also means more prisoners will be accommodated locally, improving family connections and access to courts and legal representatives.

"As with all large-scale national construction projects, Brexit, high-inflation and supply chain issues have had an impact on the initial estimated costs, which we have been working hard with the prison service and suppliers to keep to a minimum."

Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Linda Pollock, said: "With the support of the Scottish Government, we are committed to investing in our estate to create better environments for people to live and work.

"HMP Highland will not only increase the capacity previously available at HMP Inverness, but also provide space for quality rehabilitative work which we know gives people the greatest possible chance of a successful return to their communities on liberation.

"This project has so far seen the creation of new jobs and apprenticeships for the local area, with more to come in future."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.