An extra £285 million-worth of improvements to courts and prisons this year will see hundreds of businesses supported and thousands of jobs created and Wiltshire businesses will be able to bid for the work. This is all as part of the Prime Minister’s plan for economic recovery.
The funding comes on top of an estimated £600 million already earmarked for capital projects this year, including the construction of 2 new prisons.
This funding boost will create and sustain thousands of jobs nationwide in the construction and digital industries and related sectors. Over £140 million will be spent installing temporary prison cells, repairing and refurbishing prisons, approved premises and young offender institutions, and improving IT in jail.
A further £142 million will be pumped into the courts system to speed up technological improvements and modernise courtrooms, building on the rapid progress made to keep the system running during the coronavirus pandemic. Combined with the £48 million already set aside this year, there will be £153 million for improvements to court and tribunal buildings – the biggest single investment in maintenance of the court estate for over 20 years.
