Prisoners at HMP Kirklevington Grange, near Yarm, are building new cells and learning new skills at the same time. Construction started this month on 152 new prison places at the open prison as part of a government drive to build 14,000 new places by 2031 at a cost of £4.7bn.
According to the government 3,300 places have already been delivered nationally since 2024, including 240 at HMP Northumberland, 21 at Holme House, Stockton, and more being installed at Deerbolt, Barnard Castle.
Rapid deployment cells (RDCs) – units which can be rolled out at speed to boost jail capacity – are part of the biggest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era, according to the government as it works to ensure the country never runs out of jail space again.
Prisoners on the team
At Kirklevington Grange two prisoners from the prison are working on the foundations on site, with plans to increase participation where possible, giving offenders the skills, experience and qualifications they need to turn their backs on crime for good, said the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Kirklevington Grange is an open prison which supports men preparing for release and resettlement in the North East.
Construction partner Reds10 is also employing prisoners on temporary release to help manufacture RDC units across the wider estate, while three prison leavers are now permanently employed by the company.
Always a cell for the dangerous
Catherine McKinnell, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said: “We inherited prisons on the brink of collapse, with the system days from running out of places and dangerous criminals at risk of having nowhere to go.
“We’re fixing that failure by getting prison places built across the country, including major investment here in the North East and Yorkshire, so there is always a cell for those who pose a danger to the public.
“We’ve already delivered 3,300 places across the country and we’re investing billions to build thousands more, creating jobs and making our streets safer.”
The Kirklevington Grange project was marked on Thursday10 September by a groundbreaking event bringing together prison leaders, the office of the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, and construction firm Reds10.
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Workplace experience
Kelly Pearce, Governor of HMP Kirklevington Grange, said: “This expansion is a major investment in Kirklevington Grange and will allow us to support more prisoners as they prepare to return to their communities.
“It is particularly important that the project itself is creating opportunities for prisoners to gain real workplace experience, helping them build the skills and confidence they need to find work and live crime-free lives on release.
Valuable skills and experience
Mark Wood, Head of Construction, Justice Sector at Reds10, said: “HMP Kirklevington Grange demonstrates what can be achieved when clients, contractors, prison teams and supply chain partners work together as one team from the outset.
“As our largest RDC programme project to date, it showcases the benefits of combining modern methods of construction with a fully integrated delivery model to provide greater certainty, coordination and efficiency.
“We’re also proud that the project will create opportunities for prisoners through the ROTL (release on temporary licence) programme, helping people develop valuable skills and workplace experience while contributing to the delivery of much-needed prison capacity.”
*This report is based on a press release from the Ministry of Justice.
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