Wethersfield: 'No final decision' over prison plans, says MoJ

The two separate prisons would each have the capacity to hold 1,715 male inmates

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said "no final decision" has been made over proposals to build two prisons at the former RAF base at Wethersfield, near Braintree.

A residents' group has claimed that the plans were moving "full steam ahead".

The prisons were first proposed in 2021, but an asylum centre has since opened at the base.

The MoJ said it would "continue to update local groups" over developments on the site.

'A huge monolith'

A consultation document, which was published by the MoJ in September 2021, showed the category B and category C prisons would hold more than 3,400 male inmates.

The Fields Association, a group run by local residents that campaign against the development, has claimed in a report that the MoJ is continuing to prepare its pre-planning application to build the prisons, despite the presence of the asylum centre on the site.

Alan MacKenzie, the chair of the Fields Association, said it would be "impossible and impractical" to build two prisons in such a remote location.

"It is just such a huge monolith, it cannot be done," Mr MacKenzie told the BBC. He added that the proposals were "totally inappropriate".

Alan MacKenzie, the chair of the Fields Association, says the local infrastructure would not be able to cope with the construction of two prisons

Graham Butland, the leader of Braintree District Council, said: "The Ministry of Justice engaged with us in 2022 as part of pre-application advice on their prison proposals, something any developer can request. However we have not received a formal planning application from them yet."

The former RAF base at Wethersfield has been used to house asylum seekers since July 2023

A spokesperson for the MoJ told the BBC that although the department has not made any final decisions, it will "continue to update local groups and residents as matters progress".

"As with any major infrastructure project, government officials discuss a range of potential options to achieve the best possible outcome for taxpayers," the spokesperson added.