The Ministry of Justice is facing a financial hit of more than £100 million for a prison it cannot use, following the discovery of dangerous levels of a radioactive gas. Dartmoor Prison in Princetown, Devon, was closed in 2024 after tests revealed high concentrations of radon, a naturally occurring gas linked to lung cancer.
A 'Catastrophic' Lease Decision
The Public Accounts Committee has heavily criticised the MoJ's decision to continue leasing the site, branding it 'catastrophic'. The committee highlighted that the ministry committed to a long-term lease for a facility that posed a significant health risk to both inmates and staff. Despite the known dangers, the lease agreement, with the landowner the Duchy of Cornwall, was not terminated.
This decision means taxpayers are now liable for the remaining rent on a 10-year lease for a building that stands empty. The total cost is expected to comfortably exceed £100 million.
Pressure on the Duchy of Cornwall
Criticism has also been directed at the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate which provides an income for the Prince of Wales, Prince William. The Duchy owns the land on which the prison is built and continues to receive rent from the public purse for the unusable site.
In letters to The Guardian, commentators Les Bright and Giselle Dye questioned this arrangement. They suggested the Duchy should act in the public interest and release the Ministry of Justice from the costly lease. Bright proposed that Prince William could use the rent money to support the financially struggling Dartmoor National Park Authority, which was forced to close its visitor centre near the prison just two months ago.
The Human Cost of the Blunder
The financial implications of the error have been starkly framed against vital public services. Giselle Dye pointed out that the £100 million could fund the annual salaries of approximately 2,500 nurses or nearly 3,000 new teachers in the UK.
The saga raises serious questions about due diligence in government property management and the ethics of a wealthy private estate profiting from a public sector mistake. The closure has left a significant gap in the UK's prison estate and has impacted the local community in Devon, both through the loss of the prison and the related visitor centre.
As the Public Accounts Committee scrutinises the MoJ's handling of the affair, calls are growing for the Duchy of Cornwall to intervene and cancel the lease, turning a story of administrative failure into one of responsible action.
