The Ministry of Justice’s Rapid Deployment Cells (RDC) Programme was established to address the immediate pressures facing the UK prison estate by providing temporary accommodation while longer-term prison expansion projects are delivered. The programme aims to deliver 2,000 temporary prison places across the prison estate, helping to bridge the gap created by increasing prison population forecasts and capacity challenges. The project brief identified that the delivery programme was critical to the success of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), making programme certainty and speed of delivery a key project driver.
At HMP Norwich, Dodd Group was appointed to deliver the complete electrical and mechanical infrastructure and enabling works required to accommodate a new modular prison facility. The scheme comprised prefabricated accommodation blocks together with supporting facilities including a servery, dining room, laundry, staff office and welfare areas, all integrated within a live operational prison environment.
Dodd Group’s scope included the design, installation, testing and commissioning of all site-wide electrical and mechanical services necessary to support the modular accommodation. Key elements of the works included the delivery of incoming electrical infrastructure, plantroom services, external utility connections, drainage and water services, security systems, fire alarm systems, external lighting and associated communications infrastructure. The project also required the final integration and connection of the modular units into the existing prison estate infrastructure, including power, water, drainage, data, security and alarm systems..
Working within an occupied Category B/C prison presented significant logistical and operational challenges. Close coordination with HMP Norwich/MoJ, Wates, Mace, modular building suppliers and prison security teams was essential throughout the programme. The works were undertaken under strict security protocols, with all construction activities carefully planned to minimise disruption to prison operations while maintaining programme momentum. The project team successfully coordinated service routes, plantroom installations, fire alarm infrastructure, CCTV, security systems, telecommunications and external works to ensure full operational readiness of the new accommodation facilities upon handover.
A particular success of the project was Dodd Group’s ability to deliver the required infrastructure within an accelerated programme. The Ministry of Justice identified time as a critical criterion for success due to the urgent requirement for additional prison capacity. Through collaborative planning, proactive stakeholder engagement and effective management of multiple work fronts within a secure environment, Dodd Group delivered the enabling and MEP works necessary to support the installation and commissioning of the modular units in line with the project objectives.
The completed development has provided additional accommodation capacity at HMP Norwich, supporting the MoJ in meeting short-term prison population demands while longer-term permanent prison expansion projects are progressed. By delivering the electrical, mechanical, fire alarm, security, plantroom, external infrastructure and commissioning works, Dodd Group played a key role in enabling the successful implementation of a nationally significant programme designed to safeguard operational resilience across
