Cost of replacement jail for notorious Barlinnie soars to almost £1bn The projected cost of a new prison replacing Scotland's notorious HMP Barlinnie has more than doubled to almost £1bn.
Angela Constance, the justice secretary in Scotland, revealed the updated cost of the project as she announced the construction contract had been signed by Kier Construction.
The justice secretary said: "HMP Glasgow is a bold vision for the future of Scottish prisons that will help reduce reoffending, contribute to less crime, while delivering a considerable economic boost for the city and beyond.
The Scottish Conservatives are calling for Ms Constance to make a statement to the Scottish parliament on the cost of the new jail.
In a letter to the criminal justice committee on Wednesday, Ms Constance said the contract had risen to £683.8m (excluding VAT) - taking the total cost to £998.4m, which includes land acquisition.
