RAF Coltishall

Norman Lamb
14. To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the development of plans for a prison in the former RAF Coltishall.

Mr. Hanson
A detailed planning application was submitted to North Norfolk district council and Broadland council on 18 April 2008.

The proposal is to provide a new 500 place Category C prison for males on the former RAF Coltishall site by converting some of the existing accommodation and providing some new buildings.

The prison will be in the public sector and run by HM Prison Service. Subject to planning permission, the first offenders are planned to be received in early 2009 and the prison will be fully operational later in the year.