In today's podcast  we are talking about prisons – specifically the challenge and huge opportunity surrounding the Ministry of Justice’s on-going £4bn plus investment in the UK prison estate.

I say opportunity because the MOJ’s ambition goes beyond simply adding 20,000 new prison places to the estate and intends to use this investment to deliver far wider social outcomes by creating decent modern environments that help rehabilitate prisoners and reduce reoffending.

It's a big challenge. But in line with the government’s Transforming Infrastructure Performance programme, the MOJ has set out to use this programme to change the way it delivers construction investment – placing Modern Methods of Construction and platform designs, sustainability and digital technology at the heart of the strategy over the next three or more years.

That means deep and early engagement with the entire supply chain and a fundamental shift away from traditional confrontational contracting towards a more collaborative environment. This prioritises longer term outcomes over short term outputs and should focus every mind on how this investment will help create a better prison service – and a better construction industry. 

Sounds like the infrastructure nirvana! It is my pleasure therefore, to welcome Sue McElroy, commercial director for the New Prison Capacity programme at the MOJ where she is seconded from Cabinet Office to lead the team delivering this transformation.

[Note:  In all reference to 20,000 additional prison places this does not include any work within the Category A estate]

Resources
Construction starts on UK’s first all-electric prison
The Construction Playbook
Early Supply Chain Involvement Guidance Note
Longer Term Contracting Programmes Guidance Note
Autumn Budget SR21
Transforming Infrastructure Performance Roadmap to 2030