AtkinsRéalis to oversee UK Ministry of Justice estate expansion

Image by Chris Dorney / copyright Shutterstock

AtkinsRéalis will take the prime team lead role to deliver a range of services including project and programme management, information management and health and safety advisory services across the expansion programme – which will include upgrade and expansion of current facilities as well as the design and build of new facilities.

Terry Stocks, Property Director UK & Ireland for project and programme services at AtkinsRéalis, said: “The driving force is to create the right environment for rehabilitation, and the upgrade of the prison estate plays a key role in supporting this through the multidisciplinary services we are providing as delivery partner.

“Central to this programme is that it delivers more than new buildings by encompassing real social value benefits to those individual offenders and the wider community. In addition we will also be working with organisations within the criminal justice space to support schemes that seek to help reduce reoffending.

“This latest contract award follows the successful delivery of projects over the last 15 years including complex capital maintenance projects on the existing estate, and design services for several of the prison expansion programmes.”

To support the Ministry of Justice with its estate expansion AtkinsRéalis will collaborate with key supply chain partners Arcadis and Mott MacDonald to deliver services across the country.

Stewart Cash, Business Area Director, Places, UK and Ireland for Arcadis, said: “We are excited to be delivering on this vital project for the Ministry of Justice as they deliver a future prison estate that provides the capacity needed so that sentences can be served and ensures people can be supported to turn their lives around.

“This important role builds on more than 15 years of work with the Ministry of Justice across their prison, court and probation estate. Arcadis is proud to be able to bring expertise and insight from our ongoing relationship that spans areas as diverse as sustainability, health and safety, design, delivery, digital advisory and facilities management.”

Mott MacDonald’s advisory and programme development managing director, Rachel Ellison, said: “Our team of project and programme management experts, combined with our advisory and consulting professionals, will bring a wealth of experience to the partnership’s work with the Ministry of Justice as it evolves and expands its prison estate.

“We have a strong track record of undertaking project management and strategic advisory services for the MoJ across its key projects and programmes, including the provision of Property Professional Services, support to the Accelerated Houseblock Delivery Programme at HMP Hindley and the previous Category D Feasibility study programme. Our teams are looking forward to continuing delivery of this vital expertise through this new partnership.”

As part of AtkinsRéalis’ commitment to delivering social value for the Ministry of Justice, its dedicated Social Value Team published a report at the end of last year detailing achievements towards helping to reduce the cycle of re-offending.

Through its work with key partners at The Longford Trust, Koestler Arts and Forests with Impact, AtkinsRéalis is creating pathways to employment for prison leavers and developing apprenticeship pathways to provide opportunities for local young people.