Victoria Atkins MP

Reply from Victoria Atkins MP to Kemi Badenoch MP for Saffron Walden

22 April 2022

Dear Kemi,

UPDATE ON PROPOSED NEW PRISON IN BRAINTREE

Thank you for your time on 1 March. It was very useful to hear from you first-hand about the issues you outlined. As discussed at the meeting, I am keen to ensure that the local community feels genuine benefits from the proposed new prison and that we tackle potential impacts. This letter updates you on the concerns raised by your constituents.

As you are aware, the Ministry of Justice is working to fulfil the government's commitment to delivering 20,000 new prison places across the prison estate by the mid 2020s. Around 10.000 of these places will be provided through new prisons. Last year we held a public consultation on our proposal to build two new prisons on land at RAF Wethersfield, this included in-person community events and a webinar. Feedback from the consultation is now being considered before we decide whether to submit a planning application.

We are committed to minimising any potential disruption caused by construction traffic and to keeping roads safe. Before the submission of any planning application, a transport assessment outline travel plan will be prepared by the project team. This will evaluate the transportation aspects of the development and consider the existing highway network and sustainable transport provision in the area. If a planning application is submitted, a construction management plan would be agreed with Braintree District Council before any works started on site. This would set out the building works proposed and how the construction team would minimise any impact on residents. A traffic management plan would also be developed and implemented with the Council to manage builders and suppliers' traffic and minimise the effect on local people and businesses. If we decide to apply for planning permission and this is successful, it is likely there would be a year of early works undertaken on the site before full construction works start. The main construction works would likely take 2.5 years for each prison.

We have a new prison design which priorities rehabilitation to cut down on reoffending and keep communities safer. Most importantly, the prison will be safe and secure for prisoners, prison staff and for people living nearby. The proposed new prison will reflect the ambitious and secure design shown at HMP Fosse Way in Leicestershire and HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough. The security of our prisons is a top priority and this is why we are investing £100m on new security measures, including x-ray body scanners to disrupt the supply of contraband into prisons.

I appreciate that some of your constituents may not feel the jobs created are appropriate for the area. However, the jobs created by a new prison would be varied and rewarding including officers, leadership teams, education, gym instructors, chaplaincy and healthcare.

The landscape design for the new prisons seeks to protect local wildlife, plants and trees as much as possible. A lot of care has been taken to understand the existing context of the site, through research, surveys and assessments, to respect the existing rural setting. The layout of the prisons has been designed carefully, to ensure that there will be minimal impact to the existing ecology. The site layout will sensitively integrate within the wider landscape setting, paying particular attention to preserving and enhancing the existing Woodland Trust Jubilee Plantation. Consideration of the natural assets of the site forms part of the design strategy, where the existing ecological and landscape elements are protected and retained. Landscape improvements will also extend beyond the prisons' security fences to help protect local wildlife.

If a planning application is submitted, we will engage with the local community to ensure they are kept informed at all stages of the project this will include a range of local activity such as community events and webinars. To ensure the views of the community are heard we are also committed to developing a community engagement group made up of local residents and other interested parties.

I have also attached an FAQ document which I hope will help to answer any further concerns from your constituents. Please do get in touch with my office should you need any further information and the team will be happy to help.

Yours ever,

Vitoria Atting

VICTORIA ATKINS MP