Full plans for a new block at scandal-hit HMP Parc have been submitted to Bridgend Council on behalf of the UK’s Ministry of Justice (prisons and the criminal justice system are not devolved to Wales).
The prison has faced significant scrutiny in recent years. It follows a string of inmate deaths and a damning report which criticised the inability of the prison’s private operators, G4S, to deal with serious drug problems.
Recent reports suggest that new leadership has begun to turn things around, but “there’s a long way to go”.
The new K-shaped block will be built on the southwest of the site and will require changes to the boundary wall. New gym, estate management offices and kitchen facilities will be provided. Lost car park spaces will relocated to the eastern side.
The new block will increase the prison’s capacity by 345 inmates, while an extra 160 jobs are expected to be created once up and running.
There are no detailed internal plans for obvious reasons.
Noise, traffic and drone drops dominate concerns
A pre-application consultation concluded in June 2025.
Coity Higher Community Council raised concerns about increased traffic levels, noise and the recent high-profile problems at the prison.
Parc Derwen residents who responded to the consultation were also opposed. There was criticism of the prison’s management – particularly the issue of trespassers loitering in nearby wooded areas and the use of drones. Noise featured as a common complaint too, with one resident saying that from their garden they can hear prisoners swearing “all day and night”.
Noise concerns have been dismissed by developers as their assessment concludes that “there would be a low likelihood of noise impacts”.
G4S is undertaking a review of anti-drone measures. Windows in the new block will (in their words) “make drone drops impossible”. Similar sealed windows will be retrofitted to older blocks.
