Small Secure Houseblocks

Infrastructure and Construction

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: Not disclosed
Published schedule: 15/11/2021 – 27/10/2028
NISTA delivery confidence: AMBER
Senior responsible owner: Fiona Parker

What the project is for

The Small Secure Houseblock project supports our 20,000 additional prison places commitment; its scope is to create units that will provide secure, permanent accommodation within the closed estate. The project provides a new style of accommodation for deployment in existing prison sites. Small Secure Houseblock units meet the technical needs and security standards required for Category C prisons.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the NISTA Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) has increased from Red to Amber. This is primarily due to improved time confidence following receipt of post-construction mobilisation plans.

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's end date at 25/26-Q4 changed from 16/12/27 to 27/10/28. This is primarily due to changes in project scope resulting in amendment of the project timeline.

Cost

Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests

Benefits

This project currently reports no monetised benefits. Due to the projected increasing prisons population, this project focusses on increasing capacity and there are no monetised benefits to be claimed. The project's other benefits are defined in the current baseline as: construction benefits and outcomes (capacity, modern methods of construction and sustainability); to enable an improvement in prisoner rehabilitation outcomes; and, during its construction, deliver local community benefits.