Further plans for Gartree ‘super prison’ to be approved

Further plans for a controversial super prison next to HMP Gartree in a Leicestershire village have been recommended for approval. Planning permission has already been granted for the category ‘B’ prison, which nearby residents fought to prevent being built.

The original plan for the huge super-jail capable of housing 1,700 inmates was rejected in 2022 when Harborough borough councilors voted unanimously to reject the application, against the advice of the planning officer. At the time, the decision was met with cheers and applause from residents and parish councilors who had opposed the tender since the plans were submitted.

However, last November, 18 months after it was initially rejected, the scheme was given the go-ahead by Secretary of State for Levelling, Housing and Communities Michael Gove, who ignored the advice of the government’s own planning inspector. With the general plan approved, this current application covers the look and feel of the site.

READ MORE: Leicestershire golf course could be concreted for up to 800 new homes

Planning documents state there will be 14 buildings in the main prison, in a landscaped setting. The accommodation buildings, called blocks, will have four floors and will be “more than 100 meters” from the nearest home, they add.

“The layout of the new prison has been carefully considered in relation to the village of Gartree and the surrounding area,” according to the latest planning application. “It was determined during the review of the master planning application and subsequent appeal for the new prison that the distance from the nearest block to the nearest property on Welland Avenue is over 100 meters with open space and a secure fence in between . There is therefore minimal risk of overlooking from the blocks.”

Plans call for proposed entrances and exits to and from the building to be via Welland Avenue. The car park would be located next to the Welland Avenue entrance to the prison and have 530 spaces – 341 for staff and 189 for visitors. A footpath on the site is proposed to connect to an existing footpath in Welland Avenue.

The local community has been consulted on the latest plans, with 100 letters sent and three construction site notices posted in the area, documents show. Four responses raised issues with the original planning decision, which included: “Terrible idea. It will ruin the local area, the countryside, the quality of life for residents and wildlife.” Seven layout-related comments, which included: “Can you confirm which blocks will have a direct view into my house? Right now it looks like it’s only block one, but I wanted to confirm.”

Another 66 comments were made on the current application. These include “Welland Avenue is a private road and has not been considered by Leicestershire County Council highways and is far too narrow for two large vehicles to pass and I see no plans to widen it when it is operational and this it will not only put prisoners at risk of emergency vehicles not being able to get through, but residents and staff as well.” Each of the comments raised was addressed in the application.

When the scheme was given the go-ahead last November, a Government document at the time revealed Mr Gove agreed with many of the planning inspector’s conclusions about the scheme but disagreed with her recommendation to dismiss the appeal against the decision to block the prison. . Mr Gove said he accepted the evidence presented by the complainant, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), which showed a “significant unmet need” for prison places.

Set to be built next to the existing HMP Gartree, the new prison could house around 1,715 male inmates and is called “Gartree Two” in the documents. Commenting on the development of the new detailed plans, the Ministry of Justice said: “Particular attention has been paid to the privacy of the surrounding residents, as well as to the integration and improvement of the local environment. These proposals represent a modern prison development that has been designed to be more rehabilitative for inmates, with practical activities to promote new skills. The working environment for staff is important, along with creating a more welcoming experience for visitors, while being considerate of neighbors and the wider surrounding area.”

The council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday, May 14 to consider the application.