Justice Estate: Springhill Road

11 Mar

Question

The Question session centered around the ownership and potential transfer of land at Springhill Road, which is currently owned by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and adjacent to HMP Spring Hill. Greg Smith, representing the Springhill Road Residents Association, questioned whether the MOJ plans to cede control of the greens and infrastructure to the association for community use.

14,000 new prison places

Planned creation by the current Government by 2031, with almost 1,500 to be provided by a new prison in Mid Buckinghamshire.

27,830 prison places

Created by the last Labour Government, in contrast to 500 under the previous government.

The representative from the Ministry clarified that there are no immediate plans to release the land but stressed ongoing collaboration with local representatives to maximize community benefits associated with a new prison development in the area.

Outcome

Despite local opposition, the Ministry of Justice intends to maintain ownership of the land at Springhill Road. However, Greg Smith was encouraged to formally communicate the residents’ specific concerns, which opens a potential pathway for further discussions.

Key Contributions

Greg Smith

Conservative

Addressed the lack of benefit the MOJ receives from maintaining public infrastructure on Springhill Road, advocating for its transfer to a local residents' association capable of managing the areas for community use.

Sir Nicholas Dakin

Highlighted the stark difference in prison capacity expansion between current and previous governments, defending the current approach to prison development in response to opposition from the local MP. Invited written communication on specific local concerns for a detailed response.

Original Transcript

Greg Smith

Mid Buckinghamshire

Con

Question

UIN: 903109

2. Whether she plans to release land owned by her Department at Springhill Road to the Springhill Road Residents Association.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

Sir Nicholas Dakin

11:30

As the hon. Member will know from his meeting with the Minster for Prisons in the other place, currently there are no plans to release land at Springhill Road.

The Ministry of Justice is working closely with local representatives to ensure that we bring benefits to the local community as part of the new prison build.

Greg Smith

11:30

I am grateful for the Minister’s answer, and for the Prisons Minister’s time last summer.

Notwithstanding our local opposition to a new prison, it is an absurdity that has been going on for years that the MOJ owns the greens, the lampposts and the public lighting on the Springhill Road estate adjacent to HMP Spring Hill, even though they are of no use to the MOJ and there is no benefit to the prison estate.

The residents’ association is willing to take those greens and care for them, so that kids can play on them and residents can use them. Will the Minister look again at getting the land transferred, because it is of no benefit to him or his Department?

Sir Nicholas Dakin

Under the last Government, only 500 prison places were created. By contrast, the last Labour Government delivered 27,830. The Lord Chancellor has set out her ambition to deliver 14,000 new places by 2031. Almost 1,500 of those will be provided by the new prison in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency.

If he writes to me about the specific concerns of the residents’ association, I will be happy to respond.

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