Cornton Vale women’s prison to get a new lease of life
Work relating to the redevelopment of Cornton Vale women’s prison could begin on site in February.
Latest documents in the planning consent process for the jail indicate that The Scottish Prison Service and their principal contractor Morrison Construction hope to make a start on site in February 2020.
Scotland’s women’s jail – once overcrowded with around 400 inmates – is going through a transformation as part of a wider revamp of the Scottish prison system.
A review researched elements from across the world including Scandinavia, New Zealand and Canada to create a new approach unique to Scotland.
The replacement facility between Cornton and Bridge and Allan will house 80 prisoners with“acute” needs in a more therapeutic environment.
A 20-place assessment centre will also help decide where women coming into custody will be located within the prison estate –including community custody units in places like Edinburgh and Dundee.
Planning permission in principle had already been granted for the redevelopment in 2018, with archaeological assessments part of the conditions attached
An MSC application (Matters Specified in Conditions) was submitted this month to Stirling Council planners, however, after approval was given for some elements of the proposals to be relocated within the site plans.
Documents accompanying the MSC application stated:“The planning permission in principle was supported by a significant body of supporting documents including site layout, cross sections and elevation plans for the proposed buildings.
“Ultimately however, the permission in principle granted consent for the proposed site layout only. That layout has recently been varied by way of a non-material variation approved by the planning authority. The variation related to the relocation of the retreat building from the north-west corner of the site to the south-east corner and the consequent relocation of the grounds maintenance building from there to the garden area.
“The design of the assessment centre has been amended from the approved layout and there is a further change to the orientation of the easternmost unit in houseblock A.
“Most buildings have a reduced floor area and the security fence for the development in the north-west corner has been brought closer into the development given the relocation of the retreat building from that location. This MSC application relates to the varied site layout.”
The MSC submission also includes details of proposed junction arrangements, including at the site entrance.
Relocation of an existing bus stop slightly further north along Cornton Road is also said to serve the new development better and has been agreed with the council’s roads authority.
Also covered is maintenance of a culvert during construction.
The documents add:“The Scottish Prison Service and their principal contractor, Morrison Construction Scotland, have a tight construction programme set out which would potentially include a soft start of enabling works on site in February 2020.
“This MSC application is part of the multi-staged consent process.”
At the start of this year Scottish Prison Service head of corporate affairs Tom Fox told members of the council’s public safety committee the hope was that no one driving past would even suspect the building was a prison, and that the new facility – described as like“good student accommodation”– would be referred to as“rooms”not“cells”, with a larger and more domestic feel, possibly no longer with metal doors.