We will deliver a £300m prison expansion at HMP Highpoint
- We have begun work on a major expansion programme at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk
- This will deliver 741 additional category C prison places with facilities including a new healthcare centre and gym
- The expansion will involve the delivery of apprenticeships, jobs for prison leavers, training and upskilling of prisoners, as well as services to the local community
HMP Highpoint Groundbreaking Ceremony
In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, we have started work on a major expansion programme at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk.
The £300m project will provide 741 new category C prison places for the Ministry of Justice in three four-storey houseblocks. This is part of the prison building expansion programme currently being undertaken by the Government to increase capacity and alleviate the nationwide pressure on prison places.
As well as these new houseblocks, the project will feature ancillary facilities including a healthcare building, a multipurpose workshop, additional kitchen space to service the whole prison, and upgrades to several existing buildings including the gym and gatehouse.
We held a groundbreaking event on Thursday, 6 March with the MoJ team to celebrate the start of the construction work. At the event, we were joined by Minister James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, and our Chairman, Tim Wates, also joined for this very special occasion
To support the Government’s drive to cut reoffending by improving the rehabilitation of offenders, a state-of-the-art workshop and teaching facilities will be built, to teach prisoners valuable skills to help them secure employment after release.
The project will also deliver a substantial amount of social value, including apprenticeships, jobs for prison leavers, training and upskilling of prisoners as well as services to the local community.
Embracing modern methods of construction, the project uses standardised designs to work smarter — reducing carbon emissions, speeding up delivery, and ensuring the new wings meet the highest standards of quality, security, and efficiency. The project is targeting a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.
This Government is fixing the broken prison system it inherited – wasting no time in getting shovels in the ground to deliver the spaces needed to protect the public.
“These new houseblocks have been designed with a laser-focus on cutting crime and are a major step in our plan to deliver 14,000 more prison places by 2031.
“But we cannot simply build our way out of this crisis, which is why we’re also reviewing sentencing so we can lock up dangerous offenders, cut crime and make our streets safer.”
Lord James Timpson
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending
We are proud to be involved in the major programme of delivering much-needed prison spaces.
“Through the construction of this project, around 2,000 building components have been crafted in Ministry of Justice workshops, providing meaningful employment opportunities, helping develop valuable skills and supporting brighter futures.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Ministry of Justice delivering additional prison capacity with a focus on rehabilitation, sustainability and social value for the local community.”
Phil Shortman
Regional Managing Director — MoJ, Wates
Other key stakeholders in the project are Mace, Pick Everard, Baker Hicks, Gleeds and Prism Offsite Manufacturing.
The new prison wings are due to be completed in Summer 2027, with prisoners moving in shortly afterwards.
