Update on the plans to build new prison in Aylesbury

The Ministry of Justice have notified local residents that planning committee has refused their proposal to build a prison next to the existing Grendon and SpringHill site, but they are going to appeal against the decision.

They have sent a letter to certain residents, which read like this:

"Dear Neighbour 

As you may be aware, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) submitted a planning applications for a new prison next to HMP's Grendon and Springhill in June last year, Which was refused by the planning committee on 24th March 2022. The MOJ has since been considering the reasons for refusal, seeking advice and considering what the next steps might be.

The MOJ is committed to providing more safe, secure modern and decent prison places and believes that the proposed scheme would deliver this, along with benefits for the local and wider community, such as job creation and investment into the local economy. A new prison in Buckinghamshire would provide more of the right type of prison places in the South East, where there is a forecasted future demand. With that in mind and following much consideration, the MOJ will submit an appeal against the refusal to the Planning Inspectorate.

You may have previously submitted a comment on the planning application as part of Buckinghamshire Council's consultation. If so, once the appeal is submitted your comment will be provided to the Planning Inspectorate. You will also have the opportunity to submit additional comments should you wish to. The appeal will be dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate, and more information will be available in due course, likely via Buckinghamshire Council's planning portal. 

Whilst the appeal is being prepared, we will undertake some further surveys on land in MOJ's ownership (such as ecology surveys) that will provide further information and better inform construction plans should the prison go ahead. You may therefore notice surveyors on site over the next few months. 

Separately to the plans for a new prison, a planning application has also recently been submitted to expand the existing Category D (open prison) HMP Springhill. The application is for two new two story 60 bed accommodation open unite (total 120 places) and includes plans for parking spaces, an additional training centre office building and kitchen storage area. The application will be considered separately to the plans for the new prison, with further information on the propels available to view on Buckinghamshire Council's planning portal in due course should you wish to know more. 

the safety of the public is our highest priority. To prevent future victims, the ability to test men in open conditions as they approach the end of their sentence is a critical step in their reintegration into society. By making these changes we are improving the options for the staged rehabilitation of offenders in supervised conditions. This can offer significant advantages for the safe management and resettlement of offenders compared to release directly from closed prisons. 

Finally I would like to thank you for your engagement with the planning process for a proposed new prison so far. I can assure you that should the appeal be successful, we will continue to work closely with the community to ensure the proposed prison has a positive impact on the immediate and surrounding area, whilst putting in place measures to address areas of concern identified during consultation with local residents.

Robin Seaton

Deputy Director-senior Responsible Owner, New Prisons,"