Posted: Thu 10th Jan 2013

Wrexham Still A Possible Location For New Super Prison

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 10th, 2013

The Government is to start feasibility work on what would be Britain’s biggest prison as part of a major programme of updating Britain’s prison estate. The new prison could hold more than 2,000 prisoners – and a site around Wrexham could be its location.

The size of this new prison will mean its roughly 20% larger than any existing facility, thus being dubbed a ‘super prison’. Three areas are being considered for the location of the new facility, one around London , another in North West England and finally North Wales.

Last month we wrote about local MP Ian Lucas requesting that plans for the ‘super prison’ be put before parliament.

The new developments will allow the Ministry of Justice to close six smaller, older and more expensive prisons, and to close parts of three others. The prisons affected by closures are HMPs Bullwood Hall, Canterbury, Gloucester, Kingston, Shepton Mallet and Shrewsbury, with some accommodation at HMPs Chelmsford, Hull and Isle of Wight also closing.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said “We have to bring down the cost of our prison system, much of which is old and expensive. But I never want the Courts to be in a position where they cannot send a criminal to prison because there is no place available. So we have to move as fast as we can to replace the older parts of our prison system. That’s why we are moving ahead with immediate plans for new prison capacity, as well as closing older and more expensive facilities.”

The programme is part of the Government’s drive to build new capacity to replace older prisons and so bring down the cost of operating the prison system. It is expected to save £63 million a year.



Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]



Have a look at...

Six charged with high value shoplifting offences in Wrexham

Warning to motorbike and moped owners after series of vehicle thefts

Wrexham Music & Theatre Society unveils cast for its first musical in 17 years

Smart benches with solar power coming to city centre in regeneration scheme

Bring your broken items to Wrexham’s Repair Cafe this weekend!

Wales’ dental services at “risk of catastrophic collapse”

Whooping cough cases on the rise in Wales prompting urgent vaccine calls

Opportunity knocks for Wrexham brewery at major trade show

Man taken to hospital after incident at Brymbo property

Wrexham shoplifter jailed after city centre offences

Wrexham to take on Vancouver White Caps in ‘Wrex Coast Tour’

National Playday returning to Wrexham for a fun-filled day of activities!