A prison has been allowed to build and keep “rapid temporary cells” for 176 prisoners in a wider scheme to deliver 1,000 more prison places.
The Ministry of Justice applied for planning permission to build six new two-storey “modular buildings” at Kirklevington Grange prison, Yarm. It also wanted to keep three modular buildings, which had already been brought to the jail for temporary accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The plan is to use four of the buildings as rapid deployment cells to cope with rising numbers of prisoners. These would be used for 152 prisoners, while the former Covid buildings are for 24 prisoners, in the central area of Category D male open prison’s complex, replacing recently demolished blocks.
In a planning statement, Harry Greenhalgh from the ministry’s agent Cushman & Wakefield said temporary cells were first brought in during the Covid-19 outbreak as a quick solution in prisons to prevent the virus’s spread and protect lives. The 1,150 units, installed at 29 prisons, were also meant to help increase space.
They were initially to be used for about 12 weeks, and the cells were removed when they were no longer needed. But 850 are still in use, and the government is considering using these to help with short and long-term population needs.
Mr Greenhalgh wrote: “Around 400 cells will remain in the estate, planning permission permitted, to help mitigate population pressures and to support the transition to the significant permanent capacity that will be delivered over the coming years. These units have been used successfully to support compartmentalisation and have proven to be beneficial to prisoners who are accommodated in them.
“It is therefore proposed to retain the Covid units at Kirklevington.
“Rapid deployment cells are designed to meet short-term prison population pressures while permanent and long-term accommodation is being built. The units offer a flexible capacity solution that can be deployed at pace across the prison estate.
“This ambitious project aims to deliver 1,000 additional prison places with 152 places to be delivered at HMP Kirklevington Grange.
“The units will be modern, decent, and offer the prisons a good option to manage their progressive regimes (independent living for risk-assessed prisoners).
“The rapid deployment cells will be used as accommodation for the prisoners. The cells will be single occupancy.
“The recruitment of an extra 20,000 police officers is likely to increase charge volumes and the future prison population. The government’s commitment to create 20,000 additional prison places through the new prisons, and expansion and refurbishment of existing prisons by the mid-2020s will support this.
“There is an imperative need to provide new prison places across the country. Rapid deployment cells are proposed to support short-term prison population pressures and maintenance and refurbishment projects.”
Stockton Council has now approved the proposals for the cells, along with building two plant rooms, a generator area, a switch room and other works, with conditions.
Planning officer Elaine Officer said in her report: “Kirklevington Grange has a long established use as a prison on the site. The proposals are within the confines of the site and will not have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area and will not cause unacceptable harm to the countryside.
“It is considered the proposed development will not affect the architectural or aesthetic significance, nor the historic or cultural significance of the listed building. The proposed buildings will occupy the site of previous prison blocks.”
In July, the council gave a “certificate of lawfulness” to Holme House Prison in Stockton for 20 rapid deployment cells and eight “ancillary units” as part of a £4bn national scheme to build, expand and refurbish jails.
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