Kier is a trusted partner to the Ministry of Justice, having delivered the award-winning HMP Five Wells in 2021, as well as being a part of its Alliance for New Prisons, which is transforming the prison estate across England. Harnessing technical capability from across Kier, including our specialist Strategic Projects, Kier Design and Mechanical and Electrical teams, we delivered a pioneering state-of-the-art prison for the MoJ.
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
1,200
factory-assembled mechanical services units and 74 plants skids produced off-site
Delivering 1,500 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 1,500. 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.
"To realise this ambitious project, we harnessed Kier’s cross-disciplinary technical expertise to deliver exceptional outcomes for the MoJ.
This involved delivering complex mechanical and electrical infrastructure at scale and cutting-edge digital solutions, to ensure operational efficiency and productivity for years to come. 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."
Spencer Baber, managing director, Kier Strategic Projects
Our 360 approach in action
Kier’s 360 approach involved technical capability and expertise from across the Group to provide:
- Major projects capability: Kier deployed a specialist team experienced in delivering large-scale, complex projects to ensure MoJ’s ambitious goal to deliver a modern, state-of-the-art prison was realised.
- Kier Design: Our in-house professional services team delivered the temporary works design to support the civil engineering works required across the site.
- Digital: Innovative digital processes and programmes were used to deliver HMP Millsike, including OpenBIM and digital standardisation. The digital construction process provided a trackable and accurate build process throughout delivery – from design and manufacture through to installation.
- Mechanical and Electrical: Our experts managed complex installations, deploying large volumes of offsite-manufactured riser units and horizontal distribution racks across six houseblocks and ancillary buildings.
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. 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 1,300 school children locally, encouraging students into careers in construction, sharing personal experiences from the site team, and talk about apprenticeships and further education opportunities.
"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, Former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
HMP Millsike was procured via the Crown Commercial Services - Construction Works and Associated Services framework.
