| answer text |
<p>We are delivering 20,000 additional, modern prison places, the largest prison build
programme since the Victorian era, ensuring the right conditions are in place to rehabilitate
prisoners, helping to cut crime and protect the public. These places are being delivered
through the construction of six new prisons, as well as the expansion and refurbishment
of the existing estate and temporary accommodation. To date, we have delivered c.5,900
of these places and are on track to have delivered c.10,000 by the end of 2025.</p><p>In
October 2023, the Lord Chancellor announced funding of up to £30 million to start
acquiring land that will be required for future prison capacity.</p><p>The Department
has taken a number of steps to identify land for potential prison sites. We have commissioned
a property agent to search the market for land in the North West and South East, our
areas of greatest forecast demand for prison places; officials have started discussions
with significant private and public sector landowners and continue to assess a shortlist
of sites for planning risk and strategic and operational fit. In parallel, officials
are engaged in strategic conversations with local and regional leaders to identify
areas where communities would welcome the economic and employment benefits of a new
prison.</p>
|
|
