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Peterhead chosen for 'super-jail' | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
A new "super-jail" in the north east will be built on the site of the existing prison at Peterhead. | |
HMP Grampian will hold about 500 inmates - roughly the current combined capacity of the ageing Victorian-era prisons in Peterhead and Aberdeen. | |
Peterhead currently caters exclusively for sex offenders, while Craiginches in Aberdeen is among the most overcrowded prisons in Scotland. | Peterhead currently caters exclusively for sex offenders, while Craiginches in Aberdeen is among the most overcrowded prisons in Scotland. |
HMP Grampian will replace the two older jails. | |
The proposed development will be located on land at the east of HMP Peterhead, which currently houses some prisoner activity facilities. | |
The Scottish Prison Service said construction of the new prison may reduce the capacity of the existing jail and some prisoners may have to be moved. | |
The announcement was made by Mike Ewart, chief executive of the SPS. | |
Publicly-run prison | |
He said the service had conducted an assessment of potential sites within the Peterhead area. | |
"This exercise has now been completed and concluded that the preferred site for HMP Grampian is on the site of the existing HMP Peterhead," he said. | |
"SPS will seek planning permission from Aberdeenshire Council for the proposed development. | |
"Subject to receipt of planning consent, SPS will award a contract for the construction of the proposed HMP Grampian which will be run by the Scottish Prison Service." | |
Local people had campaigned for the publicly-run prison to be built at Peterhead. | |
The Scottish Government has pledged to ensure it is a "world-class" facility. | The Scottish Government has pledged to ensure it is a "world-class" facility. |