Balfour Beatty has announced that it has been awarded a contract to construct
the new £209 million HMP Highland in Inverness, Scotland, on behalf of the
Scottish Prison Service.
Balfour Beatty was first appointed to deliver the pre-construction phase,
including the design of HMP Highland, in 2022. This latest phase, valued at
£119 million, will see the company progress with the construction of the new,
modern 18,500m2 facility comprised of two new interconnected buildings and
associated infrastructure.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, HMP Highland will be the first net zero
prison in Scotland with the facility designed to run off renewable energy
sources such as ground source heat pumps, to align with the Scottish
Government’s low carbon targets for the project.
The company will utilise modular construction methods to preassemble the
internal wall panels and perimeter walls offsite in a controlled factory
environment, significantly reducing carbon emissions by minimizing the number
of lorry movements and material deliveries to and from site.
As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting, positive legacy in the
communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty has also committed to spending
£60 million with local supply chain partners and businesses throughout the
duration of the project.
On completion, HMP Highland will replace Inverness Prison and will
accommodate 200 prisoners, becoming the first new prison in the area – serving
the Highlands, Islands and Moray – for more than a century.
Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business
in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to continue working alongside the Scottish
Prison Service as we move into the construction phase of this significant and
important project.
“We will draw on our extensive expertise in modern methods of construction,
and our unrivalled local knowledge, to deliver this groundbreaking,
best-in-class facility which will become the first net zero prison in
Scotland.”
Linda Pollock, Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said:
“With the support of the Scottish Government, we are committed to investing in
our estate to create better environments for people to live and work.
“HMP Highland will not only increase the capacity previously available at
HMP Inverness, but also provide space for quality rehabilitative work which we
know gives people the greatest possible chance of a successful return to their
communities on liberation.
“This project has so far seen the creation of new jobs and apprenticeships
for the local area, with more to come in future.”
At construction peak, Balfour Beatty will employ 250 people with 5% of its
workforce made up of apprentices, graduates, and trainees to support its
commitment to The 5% Club.
