Monday 8 November 2021

UK’s greenest prison to open in 2023

The UK’s greenest prison has been unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab today.

In line with net zero ambitions, the Glen Parva prison in Leicestershire has been built with reused rubble from the previous demolished prison, 960 solar panels installed so that it can run on renewable energy and infrastructure has been put in place for electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The jail also pilots new power generators that are fuelled by vegetable oil rather than diesel, which will cut carbon emissions by 90%.

Glen Parva will also train up to 500 prisoners at once in green skills including recycling and waste management to promote sustainability and reduce the amount of criminals reoffending.

Additionally, offenders will help to plant more than 3,500 trees this winter to prevent 875 tonnes of carbon emissions across their lifetimes.

The next four planned prisons have been designed to cut carbon emissions by 85% and slash energy bills up to £100 million.

Glen Parva will open in 2023.

Mr Raab commented: “We are delivering the biggest and most innovative prison-building programme in a century.

“Glen Parva represents the future, using in-cell technology to raise literacy and numeracy standards and designing workshops to get offenders into work - to drive down re-offending and protect the public.”