We mark milestone at new prison HMP Welland Oaks
We mark milestone at new prison HMP Welland Oaks
- We hold groundbreaking event with Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International Jake Richards MP and Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson OBE
- The Category B prison will provide over 1,700 much-needed new prison places
- HMP Welland Oaks includes facilities to support long-term rehabilitation, built with meaningful education and training in mind.
We have broken ground at HMP Welland Oaks, the new Category B prison being developed next to the existing HMP Gartree site in Leicestershire.
The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International Jake Richards MP and Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson OBE to officially mark the beginning of the main construction phase.
HMP Welland Oaks will provide over 1,700 prison places, as part of the Government’s aim to create 14,000 prison places by 2031.
Designed to promote rehabilitation and reduce reoffending, the new prison will feature seven houseblocks, two large workshops and a dedicated education facility. This will enable prisoners to gain valuable skills and qualifications to help them rebuild their lives after release.
Thirty prison leavers will secure at least six months’ employment, either on site or through our supply chain, and 50 will gain construction skills training to support their reintegration into the workforce.
We’re proud to be supporting the Ministry of Justice in delivering the vital prison places the country needs and showing how construction can be a force for good – building safer, stronger communities and leaving a lasting impact.
“HMP Welland Oaks is a highly advanced site built using modern methods of construction and other innovative techniques. It is designed to support rehabilitation and create opportunities for individuals to rebuild their lives. With workshops and extensive training facilities, we’re helping prisoners develop skills that can lead to meaningful careers after release.”
Eoghan O’Lionaird
Chief Executive of Wates Group
“This Government inherited prisons on the brink of collapse, with jails due to run out of spaces in mere days.
“This must never happen again. That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, we’re pressing ahead with the biggest prison expansion since the Victorian era.”
David Lammy MP
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Working in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, we are delivering HMP Welland Oaks as part of the Alliance 4 New Prisons (A4NP) programme, which is constructing four new prisons.
Offsite manufacturing will be used extensively to deliver core building components, improving efficiency, reducing waste and cutting carbon emissions during construction.
The project will deliver a lasting positive impact on the local community. Fifty apprenticeships will be created, with six trainees already working on site in roles spanning commercial management, planning and site supervision.
Alongside our supply chain partners, we are also dedicating more than 1,000 volunteering hours to local schools, charities and community groups, and are actively engaging with the community to identify further initiatives. In addition, 40% of the project spend will be within a 50-mile radius of the site, boosting the local economy and promoting regional growth.
Mace Consult, the leading global delivery consultancy, is managing delivery for HMP Welland Oaks as a delivery partner for the Ministry of Justice’s New Prisons Programme.
