KIER Construction has secured the contract to deliver the new HMP Glasgow in the city’s Provanmill area.
The total cost of the project is £998.4 million, which includes the cost of land acquisition, VAT, and a construction contract cost of £683.8 million.
The prison will replace the 143-year-old HMP Barlinnie and is due for completion in 2028. It will have a capacity of 1,344, representing an increase of 357 places.
During peak construction activity, there will be over 1,000 people on site, with several thousand working on the project over the lifespan. There will be 50 new apprenticeships created within that workforce.
Designed to deliver ‘fit-for-purpose, safe, and secure’ accommodation, the prison will also aim to improve opportunities for successful rehabilitation and help reduce reoffending, whilst creating a safer working environment for staff.
The project, which the Scottish Government said independent benchmarking shows is in line with costs for similar recent prison builds in England and Wales, will provide ‘significant’ economic benefits both during construction and following completion.
Justice secretary Angela Constance said, “HMP Glasgow is a bold vision for the future of Scottish prisons that will help reduce reoffending, contribute to less crime, while delivering a considerable economic boost for the city and beyond. The new modern establishment will replace a Victorian-age prison that is no longer fit for purpose. It will increase prison capacity and transform how prisoners are rehabilitated, as well as considerably improving staff working conditions.
“Delivering the best value has been a key consideration of this project, which will provide more than £450 million worth of economic benefits, including jobs and contracts for businesses in Scotland. I very much welcome that at least 50% of project spend will benefit the local supply chain.
“It has taken time to find the right site and plan for HMP Glasgow, and like all other major infrastructure projects it has not been immune to inflation as a result of Brexit and the Covid pandemic. The project’s cost has been extensively scrutinised, with independent benchmarking analysis finding the costs are comparable with similar prison projects elsewhere in the UK.”
Kier Construction has committed to providing a range of community benefits, including employment for the local community, such as apprenticeships, training and work placements for ex-offenders, as well as supporting local businesses.
Rebecca Boundy, public sector director at Kier Construction, added, “It’s an honour to be awarded the contract to deliver this critical project. We will build a sustainable, state-of-the-art facility while ensuring that local communities, schools and charities directly benefit both now and in the future.
“Using the latest techniques and modern methods of construction, we will harness the very best of our team’s significant experience in the justice sector to provide a high-quality, more efficient prison for Scotland which has rehabilitation at its core. The project will provide new jobs, with at least 50% of project spend committed to local supply chain partners, and also including provision for those who have directly experienced the justice system in the last six months.”
