Innovative ways of building houses and upskilling prisoners: Prisoners Building Homes (PBH)

Can we tackle the UK’s housing shortage and improve prisoner rehabilitation at the same time?

Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) is an award-winning programme, hosted by Local Partnerships, that is proving we can.

This pioneering initiative enables serving and post-release prisoners to build high-quality, low-carbon modular homes for local communities, including affordable housing and homes for vulnerable people.

Originally launched as a regional pilot, PBH has grown into a nationally recognised scheme supported by government departments and industry partners. The programme is overseen by a government departmental-led board, ensuring accountability across justice, housing and sustainability objectives.

Local Partnerships is a public sector delivery partner, jointly owned by the Local Government Association, HM Treasury and Welsh Government, that provides operational leadership and coordination. We bring together prisons, modular housing providers and public-sector landowners to unlock underused sites and deliver homes at pace.

The programme delivers a triple benefit:

• accelerates the supply of sustainable and energy-efficient homes
• offers prisoners accredited training and paid work, improving employability and reducing reoffending
• strengthens communities and delivers measurable social value

PBH has already delivered dozens of homes across multiple sites, with hundreds more in the pipeline. More than 130 prisoners have gained valuable skills and many of these have transitioned into full-time employment post-release. Accredited modular housing providers ensure quality and innovation throughout.

The programme’s success has been recognised with multiple national awards, celebrating its contribution to housing delivery and rehabilitation. These accolades underline PBH’s reputation as a model for socially responsible innovation.

For landowners, housebuilders and investors, PBH offers a unique opportunity to support a transformative initiative that changes lives. By partnering with Local Partnerships, stakeholders can be part of an award-winning solution that delivers lasting impact for communities and individuals alike.

We welcome conversations with councils and partners interested in unlocking sites or learning more about the programme. Please get in touch at adele.gritten@localpartnerships.gov.uk.

You can also go to PBH.org.uk to learn more.