MoJ progresses plans for Chorley prison
A planning application for a 1,715-capacity facility on 107 acres close to two existing prisons is expected before the end of the year following a public consultation on the proposals.
The Ministry of Justice has appointed Cushman & Wakefield to submit a scoping request for the project to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required to progress the scheme.
However, the consultant believes that an EIA of the site will not be required because “the proposed development does not conflict or provide significant negative environmental impacts to the surrounding area”.
Comprising seven four-storey blocks, the 226,000 sq ft prison would be built on land between HMP Garth and HMP Wymott, two miles south-west of Leyland.
Under the plans, the Chorley site would house a Category C prison, one of the two lowest security levels for institutions in the UK.
As well as the accommodation blocks, the prison would include kitchens, workshops, and kennels for prison dogs.
Wymott Bowling Club would be relocated under the plans. Credit: via consultation documents
A 525-space car park and a 1,326-metre perimeter fence also feature within the proposals.
In addition, the boiler house that services the existing two prisons – the high-security Garth and Cat C Wymott – would be relocated, as would the Wymott bowling club.
Hydrock, Atkins, Pegasus and are providing advice on flooding, transport and landscape for the project.
The scheme is part of the government’s New Prisons Programme, a £4bn investment to create 18,000 additional prison places by the middle of the decade.
The Chorley site would be one of six new-build facilities that would account for 10,000 of the 18,000 extra spaces.
The additional 8,000 would be created by refurbishing and expanding existing facilities.
