Plan for third Grendon prison approved by Planning Inspectorate

Plans for a third prison in Buckinghamshire housing nearly 1,500 inmates have been approved by the government's Planning Inspectorate.

Buckinghamshire Council previously rejected the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) application for a new category C jail at Grendon Underwood, near Aylesbury.

The MoJ said the unit would help "keep dangerous offenders off the streets".

The council said the proposed facility was in the "wrong location".

The plans had been met with strong opposition from residents and parish councils.

An MoJ spokesperson said the decision was "critical to delivering the 20,000 extra places we need to keep dangerous offenders off the streets and protect the public".

"Our plans will boost the local economy with hundreds of new jobs and we will work closely with the community to ensure they reap the benefits from the new development," they added.

The outline planning application for the new prison stated the "resettlement" jail could house up to 1,468 inmates and would be built on MoJ-owned land next to the existing Grendon (category B secure) and Springhill (category D open) facilities, off Springhill Road - and cover up to 67,000 sq m (721,000 sq ft).

Hundreds of people objected to the plan saying it would cause noise pollution, increased traffic, loss of privacy and sense of security.

Conservative Peter Strachan, the council's cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: "This decision is desperately disappointing and is another kick in the teeth for local people already blighted by HS2 and East West Rail construction works in this area.

"While we understand the need for more prison places nationally, we remain adamant that this is the wrong location."

He said the "rural location" would not be easy for people to visit inmates.

A council committee unanimously refused planning permission for the prison back in March 2022, but the MoJ appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.

Greg Smith, Conservative MP for Buckingham, the constituency which includes the jails, said he was "deeply, deeply disappointed" by the decision.

He said Buckinghamshire was being "unfairly" treated in terms of the effects of the major railway construction projects, which were causing disruption in the county.

"I'm disappointed and surprised [at the decision] given the strength of the planning grounds and the strength of local feeling against this," he said.

"How much more can north Buckinghamshire really take from mega construction projects?"

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