Plan For Massive New Prison Near Market Harborough Moves Forward
Written by HFM News on 15th September 2021
The Ministry of Justice is pushing ahead with multi-million pound plans to build a massive new prison near Market Harborough.
A planning application has been submitted to construct the jail on land close to the existing HMP Gartree.
If approved, it would be a Category B prison, housing around 1,700 long-term and high security male prisoners, and create 600 jobs.
The decision to go-ahead with the plan follows a period of public consultation and the MoJ says it has listened to concerns raised, including in relation to traffic and road safety, and will work to mitigate them.
Harborough MP Neil O’Brien told Hfm he wants to ensure if the prison is built, it brings with it improvements for the local community:
The prison is earmarked for land next to HMP Gartree. Pic: Andy Carpenter
A Prison Service spokesperson told Hfm: “We have submitted plans for a new Category B prison next to HMP Gartree as part of our plans to create thousands more prison places and jobs.
“We have carefully considered feedback received by the local community at the pre-planning consultation which ran from 28 June-2 August. This feedback has helped us understand community concerns and how we can work to mitigate them, and the key benefits and how we can maximise them.
“We will continue to work with the local community to ensure the social and economic benefits we believe a new prison will bring to the area is felt by local residents and to minimise any disruption.”
It is not yet known when the Council will consider the application.
How the new prison would look
