Chorley super prison’s enabling works to begin soon
Summary
Enabling works are due to begin soon on a proposed 1,715-place Category C prison near Leyland, following the appointment of a contractor reported to be Laing O’Rourke. The scheme has had a lengthy and contested planning history, including refusals by Chorley Council and the Planning Inspectorate before government approval in December 2024.
Why it matters
The article highlights a major public-sector development with significant planning, environmental and infrastructure implications, including Green Belt impacts and highway safety concerns. Surveyors may encounter related work in planning, valuation, due diligence, and construction monitoring around large institutional schemes.
Key points
- Enabling works are expected to start on the Leyland prison scheme.
- The facility is planned as a 1,715-place Category C prison on 107 acres of Green Belt land.
- The project has faced repeated planning objections and appeals over Green Belt, amenity, and highway safety issues.
- The design targets net zero operation, BREEAM Excellent, and at least 20% biodiversity net gain.
- The government has also announced a wider £110m package to accelerate prison-place delivery.
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