What the UK Infrastructure Strategy has in store for prison construction projects
Since the government’s UK Infrastructure Strategy has been announced, £6.3bn has been pledged to invest in prison expansion construction projects. The 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy has a goal of opening 14,000 spaces by 2031.
According to Barbour ABI planning data, there are 56 prison new build or extension construction projects already underway or set to begin in 2026 with a total value of £4.63bn.
Tier 1 contractor Kier has been noted to secure £250m worth of contracts under the Ministry of Justice’s Small Secure Houseblocks Programme (SSHP) Alliance. They are listed as the main contractor in many of the projects below. Wates and Laing O’Rourke have also been appointed within the Alliance to provide energy efficient and high value prisons.
Continue reading to discover just some of the prison projects we’re consistently tracking across the UK within the infrastructure sector.
HMP Glasgow Super Prison
The HMP Glasgow Super Prison in Strathclyde has been underway since March 2025 with Kier Scotland as the main contractor. The £998.4m project is due to be completed in September 2028.
The project consists of a new prison to hold 2000 inmates. The new build is replacing the previous Victorian-age prison, HMP Barlinnie, that was deemed no longer fit for purpose. View the project on the platform with Project ID: 12390481.
View Roles for HMP Glasgow Super Prison
Client: Scottish Prison Services
Main Contractor: Kier Scotland
Planner: Cameron Planning
Architect: Pick Everard
Civil Engineer & Structural Engineer: Curtins Consulting Limited
Mechanical and Electrical Engineers: Halton Foodservice Limited, Arup Scotland
Groundworks contractors: Carey Group PLC, Statom Group Limited
Foundations Contractors: Carey Group PLC, Roger Bullivant Limited, Statom Group Limited, National Pile Croppers
M&E Subcontractor: FES Group
Need to see more roles and their contact information? Book a demo and reference Project ID: 12390481.
HMP Highland New Prison
Balfour Beatty was appointed the main contractor and groundworks contractor in 2021 for the HMP Highland new build prison in Inverness. The £209.3m started in January of 2024 and is due to finish in autumn 2026. According to our platform the site progress is at 95%.
The project consists of a new prison with a capacity of 200 persons. It also comprises of an exercise yard, estates stores yard, house block zone, car park, and a facilities building. According to Balfour Beatty’s website, HMP Highland will be the first net zero prison in Scotland. View the project on the platform with Project ID: 12291271.
View Roles for HMP Highland New Prison
Client: Scottish Prison Services
Main Contractor: Balfour Beatty
Planner: Cameron Planning
Architect: BakerHicks
Civil Engineer: BakerHicks
Energy Consultant: Genius Energy Lab Limited
Groundworks contractors: UBCivils Limited, Balfour Beatty
Concrete frame subcontractor: FP McCann
M&E Subcontractor: G & A Barnie Group Limited
Steel Frame Subcontractors: Metaltech UK Limited, BSB Structural Limited
Need to see more roles and their contact information? Book a demo and reference Project ID: 12291271.
HMP Lancaster Farms – Two Housing Blocks
The HMP Lancaster Farms prison project is currently underway and is reported to be 65% of the way completed. Kier Northern is leading the £9.5m project as the main contractor. The project comprises of two housing blocks, a workshop, and a multi-use games area with associated works.
The project began in January 2025 and is due to finish September 2026. View the project on the platform with Project ID: 12721745.
View Roles for HMP Lancaster Farms - Two Housing Blocks
Client: Ministry of Justice
Main Contractor: Kier Northern
Planner: Cushman and Wakefield
Architect: Mace Limited
Landscape Architect: Fabrik Limited
Transport Consultant: Robert West Consulting
Groundworks contractors: Kiernan Construction Limited
Foundations Contractor: Bachy Soletanche Limited
Civils Contractor: A J Binns Limited
Need to see more roles and their contact information? Book a demo and reference Project ID: 12721745.
HMP Hindley – Accelerated Houseblock Programme
Wates Construction was confirmed as the main contractor for the £40m HMP Hindley Accelerated Houseblock Programme project in October 2025. The project is due to start November 2026 and will take 36 months to complete with a project finish date of November 2029.
Comprising of a houseblock for up to 247 prisoners, the project also includes a gatehouse extension, segregation building extension, MUGA, and associated ancillary development.
View the project on the platform with Project ID: 12877585
View Roles for HMP Hindley - Accelerated Houseblock Programme
Client: Ministry of Justice
Main Contractor: Wates Construction Limited
Planner: Cushman and Wakefield
Architect: Baker Hicks Limited
Flood risk assessment consultant: Baker Hicks Limited
Need to see more roles and their contact information? Book a demo and reference Project ID: 12877585
HM Prison Grendon Springhill 2
Due to have boots on site in Q3 2026, the Grendon Springhill 2 Prison project is valued at £300m. When completed it will be able to hold 1,500 inmates and will sit next to the existing HMP Springhill and HMP Grenon sites. ISG was originally named as the main contractor on the project, but they have since filed for administration. Laing O’Rourke has been marked as the preferred bidder on our platform, they are also a part of the SSHB Alliance.
The project consists of a new prison with six houseblocks and supporting ancillary works.
View the project on the platform with Project ID: 12576965
View Roles for HM Prison Grendon Springhill 2
Client: Ministry of Justice
Preferred Bidder: Laing O’Rourke
Planner: Cushman and Wakefield
Architects: HLM Architects, Pick Everard
Project Manager: Mace Limited
Landscape architect: Pegasus Planning Group
Need to see more roles and their contact information? Book a demo and reference Project ID: 12576965
HMP Channings Wood New Housing Blocks
Kier’s Western Limited branch is the main contractor for the HMP Channings Wood project consisting of new housing blocks. The project started in March 2025 and has a finish date of July 2027.
The whole project comprises of two 3-storey house blocks which will house an additional 494 prison places. Kier has stated that the project will also deliver two fully-electric and energy efficient X-shaped T60 houseblocks that support the MOJ’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. These houseblocks were developed specifically for the Accelerated Houseblock Delivery Programme (AHDP) and have been used in other projects such as the HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
The project also consists of one multi-use games area and pitch, workshop, prison store, and more.
View the project on the platform with Project ID: 12634121
View Roles for HMP Channings Wood New Housing Blocks
Client: Ministry of Justice
Main Contractor: Kier Western Limited
Architect: AWW
Groundworks contractors: Churngold Construction, Hannafin Contractors Limited
External walls subcontractor: PCE Limited
Heating & Ventilation Subcontractor: Dodd Group Limited
Need to see more roles and their contact information? Book a demo and reference Project ID: 12634121
Accessing prison construction projects on Barbour ABI
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