Kier has been awarded a significant design-and-build contract to expand HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire. This development is part of a broader initiative to enhance facilities across six prisons in the UK.
- The project at HMP Bullingdon includes the construction of a new 247-capacity accommodation block, expected to enhance the prison’s capacity significantly.
- Utilizing modern construction techniques, the new block will also focus on energy efficiency, aligning with the Ministry of Justice’s environmental goals.
- Further developments at the site include a two-storey workshop and a multi-faith building to support prisoner rehabilitation.
- Approved in 2022, this project is part of a £500 million package aimed at upgrading prison facilities, showcasing Kier’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the UK prison estate.
Kier has successfully secured the contract to develop new facilities at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire, which will see the addition of a four-storey accommodation block. This new block will augment the prison’s capacity by 247, thereby increasing the total accommodation capacity to over 1,300 places. It forms a part of a strategic expansion plan designed to bolster the infrastructure of several penitentiary institutions across the nation.
The construction will be undertaken using offsite methods, indicative of Kier’s commitment to employing modern, efficient construction techniques. The energy-efficient design is pivotal, aligning with the Ministry of Justice’s strategic objective to reduce carbon emissions across its facilities, thus supporting nationwide sustainability targets.
In addition to the accommodation block, Kier will also be responsible for the development of a two-storey workshop aimed at supporting rehabilitation programs for inmates. This facility reflects a forward-thinking approach to incarceration, focusing on skill development and integration post-release. Further, a multi-faith building will be erected to cater to the diverse spiritual needs of the prison population, underscoring the holistic approach to prisoner welfare.
While the project value remains undisclosed, its approval in September 2022 is part of a significant £500 million investment package. This package not only encompasses Bullingdon but also involves similar upgrades at five other prisons including Channings Wood, Elmley, Highpoint, Hindley, and Wayland, collectively creating over 2,600 new places.
Kier’s involvement in this extensive initiative underscores the contractor’s influential position within the construction sector, evident through its parallel project at HMP Elmley valued at over £100 million and its pioneering apprenticeship programmes targeted at individuals within the prison system.
Kier’s work at HMP Bullingdon represents a significant stride in modernising UK prison facilities, focusing on capacity, sustainability, and rehabilitation.
