A Cyril Sweett-led HOCP team recently completed the final £15m phase of a redevelopment project to provide state-of-the-art education, healthcare, catering, administrative and recreational amenities at Swinfen Hall Young Offenders’ Institution near Lichfield. The principal contractor on the redevelopment was Morrison Construction, part of Galliford Try Plc.

Cyril Sweett has been working as project managers to Home Office Custodial Property in order to update the 620-strong adult male young offenders’ institution with modern, well-equipped education, skills training, healthcare and other ancillary support services. The project was the final phase of a £44m scheme to expand the prison.

The scope of work included delivering a new healthcare unit offering day care and mental health in reach facilities; four new workshops to deliver vocational training with nationally recognised qualifications in trades such as carpentry, brickwork, painting and decorating, computer repair, plumbing and plastering; 14 new classrooms to provide education courses/classes; a new sports hall, weights room, gym and two five-a-side football pitches; improved visiting facilities for prisoners’ families; a new kitchen to provide meals for 620 prisoners daily; new horticulture department; new environmental management unit, a new chapel, a new prisoner reception, and extended gatehouse, fitted out with the latest biometric identity equipment. Environmental considerations included introduction of sun tubes, water-saving devices and power saving lighting.

Pete Knapton, Governor at Swinfen Hall, said he was confident the new facilities would provide a greater range of opportunities for prisoners and help to reduce re-offending.

Pete Knapton added:- “We aim to restore hope for prisoners and their families by facilitating change, promoting good citizenship and supporting their return to the community. If we are to turn lives around and make society a safer place, we have to work to reduce risk by identifying and meeting individual needs through an active and integrated programme of education, skills training and group work.”

He continued:- “The Prison Service is in the midst of considerable change, with public protection at the forefront of all we do, tough targets to reduce re-offending, and effective end to end offender management to ensure this takes place.”

Peter Summerside, Associate Director, Cyril Sweett commented:- “One of the key challenges on this project, in addition to the usual ones of timely completion and budgetary constraints, was to ensure that the work did not impinge on the day-to-day operations of the prison. The team worked closely together at every stage to ensure that disruption was minimal.”