With a decade of experience in the justice sector, HMP Millsike uses the latest technology and building methods to create a high-specification, safe and secure facility focused on reducing reoffending. With a focus on reducing reoffending rates, we looked beyond the design and construction of the project to the people who could help us build it, with Making Ground participants playing crucial roles in this flagship project.
Runs solely on electricity, making it the first prison of its kind in the UK, with more than
8,500kwh
of renewable energy being generated to power it
Almost
800
jobs were created for local residents within 50 miles of the site and 92 apprentices and trainees were employed
Kier invested significantly in the local economy, with a local spend of
45%
within 50 miles of the site
Delivering 1500 new prison spaces for the Ministry of Justice using our expertise in Modern Methods of Construction, digital technology and mechanical and electrical capabilities.
HMP Millsike is a Category C prison and has a capacity of around 1500. It is the UK’s first all-electric prison and is the first prison in the UK that has been delivered as part of an alliance, The Alliance 4 New Prisons (A4NP).
Solar panels, heat pump technology and more efficient lighting systems mean that it will use approximately 68% less energy than even the most recent prison builds.
"Using our significant experience in the justice sector, Kier has delivered a state-of-the-art, carbon-efficient facility designed to support rehabilitation, which has also provided new jobs, economic investment and skills development for the surrounding communities.
HMP Millsike supports the Government’s commitment to increasing prison capacity and reducing reoffending, and joins our growing portfolio of prison redevelopment and build projects awarded in recent years."
Stuart Togwell, group managing director at Kier Construction
"HMP Millsike sets the standard for the jails of the future, with cutting crime built into its very fabric. It is a huge step in our plan to add 14,000 extra prison places by 2031.
But building jails only takes us so far in ending this crisis, which is why we’re also reviewing sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous offenders and make our streets safer."
Rt. Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Leveraging our experience to build another prison facility
With over a decade of experience in delivering custodial projects for the MOJ, we have been able to utilise our skills, expertise and people as well as implement lessons we have learnt from previous projects. With the same project director as HMP Five Wells, adopting many similar construction and digital technologies, has supported the project mobilisation and delivery.
Cross-collaboration between Kier teams contributed to the success of Millsike – from our MMC teams using state-of-the-art offsite components to create a safe, secure prison to our in-house mechanical and electrical experts who installed and managed complex installations.
Using digital technology to deliver a state-of-the-art smart prison
Innovative digital processes and programmes were used to deliver HMP Millsike, including OpenBIM and digital standardisation.
Led by Kier, the digital construction process provided a trackable and accurate build process throughout delivery – from design and manufacture through to installation. A 3D digital twin was created to visualise every component, ensuring the use and performance of each one was monitored in real time during the build, saving considerable time and money.
16,500
components manufactured offsite by UK supply chain partners
Creating a lasting legacy through job creation and community engagement
Almost 800 jobs were created for local residents within 50 miles of the site and 91 apprentices and trainees were employed. Kier invested significantly in the local economy, with a local spend of 45% within 50 miles of the site. Through our Making Ground programme, 40 prison leavers have been trained, upskilled and reskilled.
Employment opportunities have been provided for 29 prison leavers and a further 44 prisoners released on temporary licence (ROTL). 85% of prisoners who worked on HMP Millsike were employed at the six weeks post release mark.
We engaged with over 1300 school children locally, encouraging students into careers in construction, sharing personal experiences from the site team, and talk about apprenticeships and further education opportunities.
