Around 5,000 new prison places are currently under construction across the North West, South East, South West, and East of England, as part of Government action to keep the public safe and ensure jails never run out of space again.
These new builds will add to the 2,900 places already delivered since July 2024, marking significant progress towards the target of 14,000 additional places by 2031 to lock up dangerous offenders. The latest milestone saw a 245-place houseblock at HMP Fosse Way in the East Midlands open to prisoners last week.
The expansion is also boosting local economies, creating thousands of jobs during construction and once operational. This represents a major shift after the prison estate grew by fewer than 500 net places in the 14 years to April 2024.
The new capacity is being delivered through:
- Brand-new prison builds
- Expansion and refurbishment of existing sites
- Rapid Deployment Cells – modular units designed to quickly add space
Construction is underway on new houseblocks at HMP Channings Wood (Devon), HMP Highpoint (Suffolk), and HMP Wayland (Thetford), adding 1,400 places across these sites. Expansion work has also begun at six further prisons, delivering Small Secure Houseblocks that will provide over 1,000 places combined.
In Leicestershire, main works have started on the brand-new HMP Welland Oaks, which will offer approximately 1,700 places when it opens in 2029. Rapid Deployment Cells are being rolled out at sites including HMP Wayland, HMP Haverigg, HMP The Mount, and HMP Leyhill, with places expected online by summer 2026.
Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson said:
“This Government inherited a prison system in crisis – and we’re doing everything we can to fix it.
“We’ve already delivered 2,900 new places in the last 18 months, with thousands more on the way. As part of our Plan for Change we’re making sure dangerous offenders are behind bars and our streets are safer – no excuses, just action.”
Alongside construction, the Government has published its response to Dame Anne Owers’ independent review into prison capacity, accepting most recommendations to prevent future shortages. This includes up to £700 million extra investment in probation services by 2028/29, enabling tens of thousands more offenders to be tagged and monitored, reducing pressure on prisons.
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