Construction begins on more than 150 new prison places in Yorkshire
Construction has now begun on 152 new prison places at HMP Kirklevington Grange near Yarm in a bid to ease the prison overpopulation crisis.
The Rapid Deployment Cells – units which can be rolled out at speed to boost jail capacity – are part of what the Government says is the biggest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era.
It says thousands of new prison places have already been delivered across the North East and Yorkshire, supporting jobs, local supply chains and rehabilitation.
Nationally, the Government is investing £4.7 billion to deliver 14,000 additional prison places by 2031, with more than 3,300 already delivered since July 2024.
Catherine McKinnell, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said: “We inherited prisons on the brink of collapse, with the system days from running out of places and dangerous criminals at risk of having nowhere to go.
“We’re fixing that failure by getting prison places built across the country, including major investment here in the North East and Yorkshire, so there is always a cell for those who pose a danger to the public.
“We’ve already delivered 3,300 places across the country and we’re investing billions to build thousands more, creating jobs and making our streets safer.”
Prisoners themselves have been integral to the construction process at Kirklevington Grange. Two prisoners from the prison are working on the foundations on site, with plans to increase participation where possible, giving offenders the skills, experience and qualifications they need to improve rehabilitation chances.
Construction firm Reds10 is also employing prisoners on temporary release to help manufacture RDC units across the wider estate, while three prison leavers are now permanently employed by the company. The Kirklevington Grange project has now been marked by a groundbreaking event bringing together prison leaders, the office of the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, and Reds10.
Kelly Pearce, Governor of HMP Kirklevington Grange, said: “This expansion is a major investment in Kirklevington Grange and will allow us to support more prisoners as they prepare to return to their communities.
“It is particularly important that the project itself is creating opportunities for prisoners to gain real workplace experience, helping them build the skills and confidence they need to find work and live crime-free lives on release.”