Plans have been submitted for a new "modern, fit-for-purpose" prison to replace HMP Barlinnie
The Scottish Government, Scottish Prison Service and key stakeholders have agreed that there is a "critical need" to replace the Riddrie building which has been widely and historically criticised.
The new HMP Glasgow will be built on the site of the former Provan Gas Works on Royston Road in the north-east of the city and will have the same capacity as the existing prison. Developers say it will provide a community-facing development to replace the "challenging" Victorian buildings.
The prison will be situated between the residential neighbourhoods of Royston and Blackhill and beyond the M80 motorway.
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The site has been vacant since the 1980s when there was a downsizing of the gas works requirements.
Developers have drawn up plans that include five four-storey X-shaped residential house block buildings within the centre of the site.
To benefit inmate well-being, personal development and staff management, wing sizes will be reduced from 30 cells to 20 cells. The five smaller house blocks will replace three larger house blocks.
A number of security measures will be built in including specific anti-climb walling, eaves details, pitched roofs and CCTV security.
Each house block wing will have a dedicated exercise garden immediately adjacent, and beyond that outdoor sports facilities, walking routes and horticultural areas.
A "formal, community-facing" entrance plaza will be based at the front of the building to create a "meaningful connection" to Royston Road with a community cafe and facility as the focal arrival point.
To the north-east of the site will be community gardens and a biodiversity-focused landscape.
A new pedestrian and cycle access route will be formed on the west boundary, linking the existing Royston Road cycle route through to Alexandra Park south of the M8 motorway.
Developers have said much of the site will be "masked" by the community-facing frontage to Royston Road and that it will be 45 metres away from any housing.
Planning documents outline: "The new development will have the same capacity as the existing prison and will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose, community-facing development to replace the challenging Victorian buildings.
"The proposed entrance plaza and Front of House building are set approximately 4m below the housing opposite, and is set back from Royston Road providing an offset of around 45m to the housing. At 2 storeys in height, the scale aligns well contextually.
"The linear nature of this building also creates a meaningful community facing active frontage to Royston Road whilst masking much of the development site beyond.
"The central portion of this Front of House building contains a large Community Café, which is set forward and creates a focal point with landscaping designed to visually align to it."
The plans are currently under consideration by Glasgow City Council.
