PCE and Kier join forces for the expansion of HMP Northumberland

PCE Ltd has been selected by Kier to provide the superstructure and façade for the planned expansion of HMP Northumberland, Market Harborough. The Category C facility will gain four new two-storey houseblocks, created from around 2,200 precision-made components manufactured offsite—adding 240 additional prison places under the Ministry of Justice’s New Prison Programme.

Strengthening a Proven Partnership

The award underscores a long-standing relationship between PCE and Kier, built across a series of successful custodial projects, including HMP Five Wells, HMP Millsike, HMP Elmley, HMP Bullingdon, HMP Lancaster Farms and numerous other complex schemes.

Secure Prison: Platform-DfMA in Action

The expansion will be delivered using PCE’s Secure Prison structural system, a Platform-DfMA approach built around an optimised Kit-of-Parts. Every component is tailored to meet the project’s specific requirements while ensuring repeatable quality, robust security, and streamlined assembly via Smart Connectivity—PCE’s standardised interface for structural connections.

Working closely with Kier, the client and design partners, PCE oversees the design, detailing and manufacture of all elements offsite. By operating without an owned factory, PCE can select the most suitable manufacturing specialists from its European network, balancing quality, scale and cost for each scheme.

Digital Oversight & Full Traceability

Every element of the build is digitally tracked using Ynomia, an advanced platform that assigns real-time status, QA data and engineering records to each component. This integrated dataset supports Golden Thread compliance, improves coordination, and enables predictable just-in-time logistics from factory to site.

Reducing Embodied Carbon

As part of PCE’s ongoing Decarbonising Precast Concrete programme, developed with the MoJ and sector experts, revised concrete mixes have achieved a 12% reduction in embodied carbon compared with HMP Fosse Way—equivalent to around 753 kg CO2e per prisoner place—without compromising structural strength or longevity.

Building the Future of Custodial Infrastructure

The HMP Northumberland expansion highlights how offsite precision, digital assurance and low-carbon design are reshaping the delivery of secure accommodation. PCE’s approach combines speed, safety and sustainability, setting a benchmark for the next generation of UK prison construction.

Images taken from different prison projects