Delivering certainty through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), leveraging our delivery model to provide capacity at speed for the MoJ.

The project will provide 120 new places and a new workshop as part of Lot 3 East in the Small Secure Houseblocks Programme (SSHP). This is an innovative programme of work, using a low rise houseblock design to facilitate construction using Permitted Development rights within existing Establishments.

Using in-house delivery to support efficient, safe delivery

The SSHP uses a Platform-DfMA approach for the Houseblock design across the Alliance, and Laing O’Rourke received a reference design from the client team at the end of RIBA Stage 3. This is now being developed into a site specific design during the PCSA to incorporate information from site surveys and our input from our specialist manufacturing businesses. The Houseblock design includes precast columns, slabs, walls, façade panels and riser modules. We have worked with the design team and the MoJ to increase the pre-manufactured value (PMV) from the target of 73% to 85%.

Working collaboratively to prioritise safety and security

The HMP Ranby scope is delivered entirely ‘behind the wire’. To maximise productivity and maintain security, the Establishment’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) and prison escorts join our daily production coordination meetings with operatives and supervisors. This creates a shared understanding of interfaces between site works and prison operations. For example, line routes (designated pathways for moving large numbers of inmates) constrain vehicle movements, so we schedule access and deliveries around them. Where tasks are near a line route, we elevate the security risk profile and reflect this in task-specific methodology, risk assessments and procedures. We maintain live communication with drivers and supervisors so that, in the event of an incident and lockdown, movements are immediately paused or adapted until clearance is given.

We plan works around known constraints, in collaboration with the Establishment. There is an area of the prison adjacent to our works that must remain accessible 24/7, to allow fire tenders to get to one of the existing houseblocks in the event of an emergency. Drivers are briefed on this and are instructed to leave the area safe and clear should an alarm be raised.

Leveraging our in house expertise to de-risk utilities diversions

The enabling works include multiple service diversions that interface with prison operations. To de-risk delivery, we proactively engaged the FM team from day one and deployed our directly employed utilities team to survey service routes and understand system interfaces. Our in-house Appointed Persons have supported these works.