The opening of the much-delayed new Barlinnie prison has been put back to 2028 and the projected cost has more than doubled to £1 billion.
The jail is now set to open three years later than initially planned and the costs have soared from the previous prediction of £400m. The cost was projected to be £250m in 2019.
The 143-year-old HMP Barlinnie was described as not fit for purpose in 2020 and the prison’s governor warned the jail faced a possible “catastrophic failure” if the new prison was pushed back further. The Scottish Government pledged in 2018 to replace the Victorian jail with a new facility.
The new jail will hold 1,344 inmates – some 357 more than the current prison’s capacity. But Barlinnie actually holds 1,400 inmates due to overcrowding
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.
“The new modern establishment will replace a Victorian-age prison that is no longer fit for purpose. It will increase prison capacity and transform how prisoners are rehabilitated, as well as considerably improving staff working conditions.
“Delivering the best value has been a key consideration of this project, which will provide more £450 million 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.”
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