£3m deal for Blundeston prison site as it is set to be turned into housing development

An empty cell in Blundeston Prison

However, Lowestoft-based Badger Building has been told it must try to stick to government and council guidelines to create a “mixed-use development”, meaning it would be used for business, leisure and community purposes, as well as homes.

The future of the site has been up in the air for more than two years after the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) decided to close the 50-year-old, 24-acre jail despite local opposition.

However, residents have been keen to stress that they do not want to see over-development of the site. Blundeston Parish Council chairman Graham Wade said: “We only hope they abide by the plans that have been put in.

“A bit of housing we can’t refuse but we don’t want it to be overdeveloped. We want it used as something for the village. We’ll fight hammer and nail to limit housing on there – we’ve already got enough homes.”

Badger Building managing director Stephen George – who lives in Blundeston – said: “We want to make sure what we build there is in keeping with what Blundeston wants.”

The firm is now appealing for people to get in touch if they have a business or community group that might benefit from being located on the site.

However, he said that the company could not devise a blueprint for a mixed-use site unless those organisations come forward. “Someone had to grab hold of the situation,” Mr George said.

“We’re approachable and will listen to what anyone’s got to say.”

Badger Building now plans to consult with residents about what they would like to see there.

It is temporarily being used by the police for firearms and dog- handling training, although Mr George hopes to hold open days in the near future to show people around the site.

“The prison has been very much part of the village for several years and, along with many others, I was saddened by its closure,” he said.

However, he believes the open days will show people that the site was no longer fit for purpose as a prison.

“It is hoped a scheme will be ready for consultation with local residents by the summer,” he added

In west Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall has also been sold for housing.Blundeston Prison was opened in 1963 and was most recently used as a category C men’s prison.

However, it was closed by the Ministry of Justice in December 2013 as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

Shortly afterwards the Government appointed agent Jones Lang LaSalle to draw up a planning information document for marketing purposes.

However, their original document was described by Waveney MP Peter Aldous as “an extremely disappointing brief” amid fears it only promoted large-scale housing. Residents have said that Blundeston cannot support a large number of new homes as it is a small village which does not have the infrastructure to be able to cope.

The document now suggests a number of potential uses including as an area for tourism, for example as a caravan park.

However, Stephen George, managing director of Badger Building – which has bought the site – said: “I don’t think this is the site for tourism,” as there are already holiday villages like Corton and Hopton nearby.

Graham Wade, chairman of Blundeston Parish Council, said it would be good to retain the old prison’s all-weather sports pitch for community use.

However, Mr Wade said “people have got to come forward” with their suggestions of how the various buildings could be used. He also hopes a good proportion of the homes will be affordable.

Mr Aldous said it was good news the site had been sold, as “there’s nothing worse than just having something dragging on and everything becoming overgrown”.