Yorkshire firm develops modular prison cell designed to combat overcrowding crisis

Chris Turner, managing director of East Yorkshire-based Integra, said: “Prisons overcrowding is without doubt an issue of significant public concern and a major priority for the new Government.

“We believe modular construction can and should play an important part in addressing this issue. Modular construction has numerous advantages over traditional building methods and we have a bespoke, fully-tested unit which can help tackle the prisons overcrowding crisis.”

Built with a concrete base, and incorporating innovative composite materials, the unit combines traditional and modular building practices.

It can be built in a variety of sizes, with the smallest cell measuring 2.6m by 3m, and includes a shower, toilet and washbasin.

The modular cell can be provided as a single standalone unit, a conjoined unit or stacked together to create an entire building. Cells can also be added to existing prison sites to create additional capacity, or sited at other secure locations.

The cell is designed for Category C prisoners – those who pose a lower risk to the public and who make up a large proportion of the prisons population.

Sir Keir Starmer described prisons overcrowding as “shocking” just days after being elected as Prime Minister and said the situation was “worse than imagined”.