Anger over plans to house criminals metres from a school and scout hut in Consett

Last month, plans were submitted to Durham County Council, which could see Highfield House on Parliament Street, Consett, become part of the Ministry’s ‘prisoner reform’ program – creating a 16-bedroom facility to house ‘at risk’ prisoners.

Under the scheme, the former probation contact centre, which has remained derelict for some years, will also have associated support spaces, including communal areas, laundry, kitchen, and storage facilities.

Read more: People divided over turning Consett building into prisoner reform centre

A two-storey extension to the south of the building and access for emergency and prison vehicles are also part of the proposals, while the existing outbuildings will be demolished.

Despite this scheme forming part of The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) ‘masterplan’ to increase the capacity of Approved Premises nationally, which has seen them require more than 230 beds to manage the predicted rise of the next four-year period, locals in Consett have reacted angrily to the proposals and are “livid” that this scheme has gone as far as it has.

Billy Robson, who is the CEO of Delta North, an independent school that offers students an ‘alternative’ education from students at mainstream schools, has called the reform plans “shocking” and “a travesty”.

Highfield House on Parliament Street, Consett. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

According to Mr Robson, there is “a stones throw” between the boundary of Delta North, which has been in the town in some guise since 1919, and the newly submitted plans for the reform centre at Highfield House – something that should “never happen” in any location across the UK.

He said: “In 2016, when this building was up for sale – we enquired about it and were told that it could be used for some sort of project. Alarm bells started going at that point, but I thought nothing of it until I saw online that plans had gone in for a reform centre.

“I was taken aback. Shocked. After reading the project specifications, these aren’t just a few people accused of petty crime, these people that they’re reforming are sex offenders and very high-risk people. How can they even be considering proposals for a building like this?

An indicative plan on how the proposed reform centre would look. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

“In Consett, there is already detention centres, prisons and we don’t need another of this kind. There are young children that are classed as vulnerable in our school – it’ll be an unsteady time for them if this does get the green light.

“This is utterly unacceptable from the Ministry of Justice, and I call on them to rethink the plans.”

Mr Robson isn’t the only one that has strong objections against the building of the reform centre.

Delta North school is located near to the proposed reform centre. Picture: GOOGLE.

The 1st Consett Scout Group, who have their HQ just 50 metres from the boundary of the proposed MoJ centre, are worried about the wellbeing of the children who attend the scout group.

Posting on social media, the community group said: “An application has been submitted for the old probation building at the top of Constance Street to be turned into a 20 bed 'approved premises' for high risk and very high-risk offenders - this will include those convicted of serious violent and sexual offences released on licence (including against children).

“This is of great concern to the group and the health and wellbeing of our young people.

“The group would appreciate appropriate support in lodging objections to the Durham Planning officers and making representations to local councillors.”

The Consett scout hut is located 50 metres from the proposed reform centre that could be housing sex offenders. Picture: GOOGLE.

If approved, the proposed facility will be operated by the Probation Service and will be the first approved premises within County Durham jurisdiction.

As part of the proposal, the Ministry of Justice has stressed that the building will be a community facility, instead of designed to be a place that people serve a custodial sentence.

A spokesperson for The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: “These premises provide enhanced supervision through 24 hour a day staffing, night-time curfews, compliance with consistently enforced rules and a programme of “supervision, support, and monitoring, which addresses offending behaviour and the reduction of risk.

The 16-bedroom facility will have an extension to the south, featuring communal space and office space for the staff. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

“Approved premises work with the highest-risk offenders and are a vital element in public protection arrangements. Effective security is essential for public protection, for offender management, and for the safety of staff and residents alike. Approved premises offer a level of contact, support and supervision that exists nowhere else in the probation service.”

A decision on the application is expected into next month, which could be heard by the planning committee at Durham County Council.

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