Scotland's newest prison, HMP Addiewell in West Lothian, designed by HLM architects, has been completed.

The prison houses 700 medium and high security male prisoners and employs some 350 people.

To deliver the £70m facility, HLM worked closely with Interserve, which was responsible for the prison’s construction, and with Over Arup engineers. The prison is operated by the private company, Kalyx and is Scotland’s second privately-run prison.

The design of both internal and external environments throughout HMP Addiewell has been developed to create a positive and sustainable atmosphere which promotes the physical and psychological safety and wellbeing of offenders and members of staff.

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At the very forefront of the operational requirements for the prison is the need for a learning and skills culture aimed at reducing the possibility of re-offending.

The location and design of the educational facilities was conceived with the aim of encouraging and motivating offenders to take advantage of the various opportunities on offer.

Lorraine Robertson, regional director at HLM, said: "In a prison environment, operational issues of security and robustness are overriding but this does not preclude or prevent elegant design solutions.

"We do not consider that "just a prison" is an acceptable approach or that second rate design is good enough. Rather the opposite. What greater challenge and socially worthwhile use of architecture than in the context of a prison? In Addiewell, we believe we have created a prison facility fit for the 21st century."

(GK/JM)