New Accommodation Pods Installed at HMP Ford

Thanks to collaboration with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and its external suppliers, the £2.6 million project to install new accommodation pods at HMP Ford is being delivered and is set to exceed customer expectations.

The work began in December 2020 to upgrade the residents’ living conditions at HMP Ford by installing 80 new self-contained units, or pods. Since then, they have been completed and offer more comfort and privacy, with each pod having a living area, desk, bed, WC, and shower unit.

A team of 10 workers expertly winched the 2.5 tonne pods into place on a newly levelled field at Ford. Here they replaced 20 smaller billets, mostly prefabricated, which were then demolished, meaning the new pods will be ready for occupancy by April 2021.

Project Manager Terry Coston explained: “This is a vast improvement on the previous accommodation. The residents will have much better living conditions, with more comfort, decency, and privacy. For example, each resident will have their own door key and use of a nearby kitchenette, pin phone room with 5 lines, and laundry.”

About HMP Ford: some background

HMP Ford is located near Arundel in West Sussex, on a former airfield. It played a highly strategic role as a squadron base during WW1 and later became RAF Ford Airfield, again playing major military roles in the D-Day landings.

Today, HMP Ford is an open prison committed to providing a safe and educational environment. Ford residents all have under 2 years left to serve on their sentence, so the focus is on resettlement and on men learning new skills to help them on release.

All residents are expected to work as they would out in the community. Work opportunities inside prison include painting and decorating, carpentry, engineering, cleaning and call centre work. Some residents enjoy work in nearby nurseries growing flowers and vegetables which are sold in the Ford farm shop (reopening to public shortly).

Work outside the prison is either supported through community service placements, work experience or paid work. Education provision includes a range of courses offered by Chichester College.

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