Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the (a) size of the total area devoted to biodiversity net gain and (b) cost of creating that area for HMP Welland Oaks.

All new prisons in the New Prisons Programme will have a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in line with the Environment Act 2021. At HMP Welland Oaks we are required (as a condition of the outline planning approval) to deliver 26.29% BNG which equates to 29.4 hectares.

The works form part of the wider landscaping scheme for the site and as such, the costs are incorporated within the overall project costs. The Department is unable to provide any further breakdown of these costs as the information is commercially sensitive and disclosure could prejudice the Department’s commercial interests, including its ability to secure best value for money through current and future procurement and contractual arrangements.