HMP Littlehey

The cost and time saving benefits of Terrapin’s off site construction technology have helped the expansion of a Cambridgeshire prison by Wates Construction to stay on time and on budget, whilst also achieving an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating and A-rated Energy Performance Certificates. Three double-storey ancillary buildings using Terrapin’s Unitrex panel based ‘flat pack’ building system form part of the multi-million pound extension of HMP Littlehey, which was completed in 43 weeks.

Purpose-designed Unitrex modules for the new prison buildings were factory fabricated by Terrapin whilst the on site groundworks were completed, and then delivered in ‘flat pack’ panelised units for rapid erection and finishing on site. The fast track advantages of this approach were demonstrated on the project, with start of erection to handover of the first building taking just 18 weeks. In addition to cutting construction time and costs, prefabricating much of the building work off site has particular benefits in high security areas like prisons. Because these methods involve fewer deliveries and less labour on site, the time and resources required for security screening people, plant and materials in and out of the site and storage facilities are significantly reduced.

The Terrapin buildings for Littlehey are robust, permanent structures, designed and built to comply with Building Regulations and the Ministry of Justice’s stringent security specifications. With a total floor space of 1,782 sq m over two storeys, the education building will provide a modern, secure, training facility, complete with classrooms, workshops and a library. Terrapin also supplied a new 565 sq m administration building incorporating open plan offices, meeting rooms and storage facilities for the prison staff. The visitors centre and staff change building is the third two-storey building, and has a total floor space of 618 sq m. It combines a visitors’ centre reception, including a waiting room, baby change unit and children’s play area on the ground floor, with lockers, changing areas and washrooms for prison staff on the first floor. Malcolm Mitton, construction manager at Wates said, “Terrapin dealt effortlessly with all the security aspects of working for the Ministry of Justice within a live prison environment and completed the buildings well ahead of the overall completion schedule.

The Ministry of Justice also specified that Wates achieve a ‘BREEAM Excellent’ rating for all the new buildings, which has been achieved, together with A-rated Energy Performance Certificates. Each of the three Terrapin ancillary buildings, under external scrutiny and assessment, achieved or exceeded the performance rating required to meet this onerous, but environmentally critical, performance standard.

HMP Littlehey

Image Gallery