The jail at Full Sutton, housing over 1,400 inmates will open in 2024 – this is what we know about the plans so far

The unveiling of plans for a ‘mega jail’ to be built in Yorkshire was one of LeedsLive’s most read stories of 2019.

Opening in 2024, detail of the plans hit the headlines in September with well over 1000 of the country’s criminals to be housed there.

Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer calls it the “first milestone” in plans to deliver 10,000 prison places nationwide. While more than 2,700 objections were lodged to East Riding of Yorkshire Council in response to the submitted proposals. Humberside Police lodged one of those objections.

Days later, the plans were approved by planning chiefs. Scroll down for the key questions answered on the development, where it is and the criminals that will be living there…

Where is it?

The new facility will be built at HM Prison Full Sutton. Full Sutton is a small village located just outside York. The existing prison holds around 600 inmates – category A and B adult male prisoners.

What do the plans look like exactly?

Planning documents for 13 new buildings as part of the complex were submitted with the initial proposals.

Who will be housed in the prison?

The new facility will house category C prisoners. As referenced on the planning statement, this is “those who cannot be trusted in open conditions, but who do not have the resources and will to make a determined escape attempt”. It will house 1,440 inmates in total.

Who has objected and why?

Humberside Police brought forward the most notable of objections to the plans. The chief superintendent said that similar-sized prisons have resulted in 250 extra crimes a year – most of them violent offences.

And that investigating these crimes would place “significant additional demand” on the force.

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Over 3,000 objections were received from members of the public also, but this didn’t stop planning chiefs giving the green light to the development in September.

What happens next?

Once built, the new ‘mega jail’ will create 720 jobs in the area with the facility due to be completed and open in 2024.

Source: https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/yorkshire-news/everything-know-huge-yorkshire-mega-17502624