Overview
Land Structure was contracted by Kier Construction for a new high-security, 1,600-capacity prison build for the Ministry of Justice. Valued at £250 million, HMP Five Wells is a complex facility requiring intensive landscaping and topsoiling.
Initially tasked with a modest landscaping package for the car parks, Land Structure’s role expanded to a significant topsoiling job across the site to meet stringent security and quality standards, establishing an essential groundwork for the facility.
Challenges
Strict Security Standards – Working on a secure site meant adhering to MOJ’s high-security protocols, requiring screened topsoil with no sharp objects and thorough site inspections.
Increased Scope and Budget Constraints – The project expanded from an original £110,000 landscaping package to a £950,000 topsoiling and landscaping task. This required significant planning to manage resources effectively under budget constraints.
Complex Terrain and Site Preparation – The sloping site required special measures, including a reduced dig and thorough soil screening to remove any potentially harmful materials.
Take a look at some of the pictures here:
Solution
Land Structure addressed these challenges through detailed planning, expert coordination, and strict adherence to security requirements:
Responsive Planning and Resource Management – As the scope expanded, Land Structure sourced a specialist subcontractor for topsoil transport and spreading, managed soil screening, and adapted schedules to keep pace with the evolving requirements.
Screened Topsoil and Sub-Base Preparation – The imported topsoil was screened on-site to remove sharp materials larger than 25mm. A reduced dig was conducted to ensure a secure soil layer, with a metal detector sweep on the sub-base to prevent any hidden metal risks.
Grass Seeding and Finishing Touches – Following the topsoiling, Land Structure completed grass seeding for a resilient, finished landscape. Given the site’s scale and relative importance, Land Structure’s MD Mike Miller managed the project personally, ensuring high standards were maintained at all times. The installation utilised both sub contractors and also experienced landscape installation teams from both of the companies regions so was very much a team effort.
Results
The project was completed over a year, from April 2021 to April 2022, with Land Structure successfully meeting the MOJ’s high-security standards and achieving a secure, professional landscape finish. The topsoiling efforts created a durable, low-maintenance ground cover, and the project served as a testament to Land Structure’s ability to deliver on complex, high-stakes contracts.
Key Takeaways
Managing Scope Expansion and Security Compliance – Land Structure adapted to the evolving project scope with meticulous planning, maintaining quality under strict security standards.
Trusted Expertise in High-Security Projects – The MOJ and Kier Construction valued Land Structure’s attention to detail and reliability, entrusting them with critical topsoiling and landscaping work.
Mitigating Financial and Operational Risks – The project-specific bank account provided by the MOJ allowed for reliable payments, reducing financial risk and enabling Land Structure to pay subcontractors without delay, crucial in the construction industry.
Reflections
The HMP Five Wells project demonstrates Land Structure’s ability to manage large, high-security projects with expanding scope and stringent requirements. By adapting to challenges in security, budgeting, and project complexity, Land Structure delivered a secure, high-quality landscape and topsoiling solution, strengthening their reputation as a dependable contractor for government and high-stakes projects.
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