New £300m Bucks Prison Project Gets Green Light from Gove

Exciting News! ISG is all set to construct a brand new £300m Buckinghamshire prison, approved by housing secretary Michael Gove, as reported by Construction News.

Gove gave the green light to plans for the new 1,468-capacity Category C prison at HMP Grendon on Tuesday (30 January), following a recommendation from a planning inspector. Despite being initially refused by Buckinghamshire Council, the Ministry of Justice appealed their decision.

With approval granted, ISG is now gearing up to commence work on the site later this year or early next year, part of the £1bn Alliance 4 New Prisons programme. This collaborative effort between contractors has resulted in standardized designs for four new prisons.

The impressive new 67,000 square metre prison complex with six four-storey house blocks and amenity buildings will be located in the village of Grendon Underwood, alongside the existing Category D Grendon Prison and Spring Hill Prison.

The ambitious construction of the prison is expected to cost £300m, according to CN.

The Alliance 4 New Prisons programme, in which four contractors, including ISG, have been involved, aims to provide 18,000 new prison places across four new prisons. Kier, Wates, ISG and Laing O’Rourke are the appointed contractors.

Delayed plans were met with strong opposition, including concerns about the impact on wildlife and the local countryside. However, the planning inspector ultimately approved the scheme, emphasizing the national impact and social benefits of the new facility.

The decision to move forward with the prison was met with disappointment by some members of Buckinghamshire Council, who remain firm in their belief that the location is not suitable for the facility.

Despite the challenges, the approval marks an important step in the construction of the new prison. Continue reading on Construction News.

For more details, read the full article here.