The government has announced plans to build four new prisons using modern methods of construction, including standardised components manufactured offsite.

The four new jails, the first of which will be built next to
HMP Full Sutton, in East Yorkshire, will be constructed over the next six
years.

• Kier gives members a preview of government’s flagship prison project
• Kier predicts contractors will employ ‘offsite managers’

Work is underway to identify locations for a further prison
in the north west of England and two in the south east.

The prisons are part of the government’s £2.5bn programme to
create 10,000 additional prison places.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the new buildings would
employ modern methods of construction already incorporated into the new prison
being built at Wellingborough by Kier. The facility embraces the Design for
Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach, integrating digital tools to drive
efficiencies in the design, construction and operation of the facility.

The four new prisons will also adopt DfMA, building on
lessons from recent school construction work. The MoJ said it hoped to see
quicker assembly times, lower energy use, better environmental performance as a
result, with components such as concrete walls, and pipework for water and
electricity built offsite using modern, standardised processes and assembled on
site.

Prisons and probation minister, Lucy Frazer, said: “These
new jails form a major part of our plans to transform the prison estate, and
create environments where offenders can be more effectively rehabilitated and
turned away from crime for good.

“As well as a boost to our justice system, these prisons
will create thousands of new jobs and send a clear signal that the government
can and will continue to invest in the vital infrastructure this country needs.”

The new prisons are being designed with enhanced security such
as bar-less windows to stop waste being thrown out and to prevent prisoners
accessing drugs and mobile phones flown in by drones. High-speed network
cabling will also be incorporated to enable modern security measures such as
airport-style security scanning, to prevent the smuggling of the illicit items.