A NEW prison to replace Glasgow’s 143-year-old HMP Barlinnie has been approved – and will cost around £1 billion.
Initial estimates for the new prison – HMP Glasgow – had been around £170 million. However, in late 2023 Justice Secretary Angela Constance said replacing the “somewhat Victorian” prison would likely cost around £400m.
Now, the Scottish Government has said that the “total project cost” will be £998.4m. This figure includes the cost of land acquisition, VAT, and a construction contract cost of £683.8m.
The Scottish Government said that “independent benchmarking” showed the projected spend was “in line with costs for similar recent prison builds in England and Wales”.
HMP Glasgow, which will be at Provanmill, south of Royston Road, will have a capacity of 1344 and should be completed in 2028, the Scottish Government said. It will add 357 more places to the overall Scottish prison estate.
The SNP Government said that developer Kier Construction has committed to providing a range of community benefits, including employment for the local community, such as apprenticeships, training and work placements for ex-offenders, as well as supporting local businesses.
During peak construction activity there will be more than 1000 people on site, with several thousand working on the project over the lifespan. There will be 50 new apprenticeships created within that workforce.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “HMP Glasgow is a bold vision for the future of Scottish prisons that will help reduce reoffending, contribute to less crime, while delivering a considerable economic boost for the city and beyond.
“Delivering the best value has been a key consideration of this project, which will provide more £450m worth of economic benefits, including jobs and contracts for businesses in Scotland. I very much welcome that at least 50% of project spend will benefit the local supply chain.
“It has taken time to find the right site and plan for HMP Glasgow, and like all other major infrastructure projects it has not been immune to inflation as a result of Brexit and the Covid pandemic.
“The project’s cost has been extensively scrutinised, with independent benchmarking analysis finding the costs are comparable with similar prison projects elsewhere in the UK.”
Teresa Medhurst, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said: “HMP Glasgow will have a transformative impact in how we support and rehabilitate people.
“It is an investment in our staff, in those in our care, and in Glasgow and Scotland as a whole, as we work with our partners to improve people’s futures and together build safer communities.
“I want to thank the Scottish Government, for its continued support and investment, and everyone whose hard work has helped us reach this important milestone as we continue to develop a prison estate fit for the 21st century."
