Work Starts To Build Giant New Prison Near Market Harborough
Written by HFM News on 17th July 2024
Work has started to build a massive new prison near Market Harborough.
Contractors have today moved onto the site at Gartree where the 1700-inmate jail will be constructed, adjacent to the existing HMP Gartree.
Work to build the new prison is getting underway
The £300m Category B prison will take just over four years to build and will consist of 14 buildings, including seven four-storey accommodation blocks, set within a secure perimeter fence.
The Ministry of Justice say the construction phase will create around 100 jobs and inject over £70m into the local economy.
A spokesperson told HFM: “The prison system is in crisis and we urgently need more prison places to lock up the most dangerous offenders and protect the public.
“The new prison in Market Harborough will create 1,700 places, create around 600 permanent jobs and inject millions into the local economy.”
The prison, opposed by a large number of people, was controversially given the go-ahead last year when the government overruled a decision by Harborough District Council and a Planning Inspector to refuse planning permission.
Diana Cook helped lead the campaign against the jail with Gartree Action Group.
She told HFM it is the wrong location for it:
Work to build the new prison is getting underway
The Ministry of Justice held a series of constructive pre-application engagement meetings with Harborough District Council and accommodated requests for changes to the prison’s appearance, as well as writing to 1,500 residents inviting comments and establishing a stakeholder liaison group.
It says the design of the buildings has been prepared in accordance with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) strict technical standards to maintain the level of security needed for a Category B prison.
The start of work comes after Harborough MP Neil O’Brien and Harborough District Council Leader Phil Knowles last week appealed to the new Labour government to order a re-think on the building of the jail.
How the prison will look
A spokesperson for Harborough District Council told HFM: “The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) was obliged to inform the council of the start date for its new prison at Gartree by a requirement of the planning appeal.
“The MOJ has given notification that it intends to start work on site on Wednesday 17 July 2024.
“The Leader of the council has written to the Prime Minister asking for the prison decision, made by the previous Secretary of State, to be revisited and overturned as the council’s Planning Committee and the Planning Inspectorate did not approve it.”
