By Keith Handy, Director, Howarth Litchfield
Howarth Litchfield has cemented its growing reputation in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) sector, securing a raft of national custodial projects with leading construction group, Galliford Try
The firm’s expertise has been called upon for multiple schemes within the MoJ’s £2.5bn Constructor Services Framework – a programme designed to deliver new build, refurbishment, maintenance and associated services across the prison estate. Galliford Try is one of only eight contractors appointed to the national lot for projects valued between £10m and £30m.
Howarth Litchfield’s director, Keith Handy, has been at the forefront of this work, drawing on his long-standing relationship with Galliford Try to develop a significant and diverse custodial portfolio in a short space of time.
Delivering in a live custodial environment
Recent Howarth Litchfield projects with Galliford Try span the North East, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Southern England. These include schemes at high-security facilities in Durham, Stockton and Barnard Castle as well as projects in London, Wakefield and Hemel Hempstead.
The work is varied – from refurbishment and alteration works to accommodation blocks, through to feasibility studies and the design/ construction of new ancillary buildings for education, catering, training and reception facilities.
One major driver is the MoJ’s Rapid Deployment Cell (RDC) Programme. While Galliford Try is not on the modular build framework, the contractor and Howarth Litchfield are creating space within existing estates to accommodate these units, which in turn triggers a need for redeveloping ancillary facilities.
“The RDC initiative is essential to helping the MoJ manage pressures on capacity,” says Matt Raynor, who heads up Galliford Try’s framework in the North East. “Our collaboration with Howarth Litchfield is enabling us to respond quickly and effectively to opportunities across the country – delivering high-quality, secure facilities that meet the Ministry’s operational needs.”
A growing national role
What began as work with Galliford Try’s North East and Yorkshire offices has evolved into a national remit. Howarth Litchfield is now supporting the contractor’s Southern, East Midlands and West Midlands regions on custodial schemes.
Amy Surguy, Galliford Try’s national framework manager for custodial works, comments: “Keith and his team have become a trusted design partner on our MoJ projects. Their adaptability, understanding of custodial operational requirements and ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders have been instrumental in helping us maintain our reputation for delivery on this framework.”
Regional expertise, national impact
While the firm’s custodial work stretches from the North East to London and the South West, its base in Durham remains central to its identity.
“We’re proud to be a North East practice contributing to a national programme of works that’s vital to the safe and effective operation of the prison estate,” says Keith. “The MoJ sector is highly specialist and comes with a host of operational and logistical complexities – but that’s where our strengths in problem-solving, collaboration and pragmatic design really come to the fore.”
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