The UK’s first all-electric prison, developed by Pick Everard, Kier and the MoJ, has officially opened in York
HMP Millsike, a Category C resettlement prison with a capacity for 1,500 prisoners, forms part of the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ)’s New Prisons Programme (NPP), one of several programmes which aim to deliver 20,000 new prison places across the country.
Pick Everard acted as the lead designer on the project, working closely with the MoJ and Kier to deliver a facility with rehabilitation at its core.
HMP Millsike will provide prisoners with the skills and training needed to secure employment upon release, supporting the government’s wider efforts to cut reoffending and improve public safety.
Pick Everard has a long-standing partnership with the MoJ, spanning over two decades, and has been instrumental in shaping the design of multiple prisons, including HMP Five Wells, HMP Fosse Way, and HMP Oakwood.
HMP Millsike operates on 70% less energy than traditional prisons
Jenny Curtlin, director at Pick Everard, said: “HMP Millsike sets a new standard for sustainable prison design, incorporating biophilic principles and energy-efficient solutions to create a facility that prioritises rehabilitation. Our work on the New Prisons Programme included developing the reference design—a blueprint that has been successfully used across multiple new prisons. This latest project builds on that foundation, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.”
The prison will operate on 70% less energy than traditional prison facilities, due to air-source heat pumps, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting systems generating over 8,500kWh of renewable energy on-site.
HMP Millsike features six accommodation blocks, a central services hub, an entrance resource hub, workshops, kitchens, a support building, and a care and separation unit (CASU).
Lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice, Shabana Mahmood, said:“HMP Millsike sets the standard for the jails of the future, with cutting crime built into its very fabric. It is a huge step in our plan to add 14,000 extra prison places by 2031.
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