How Prisoners Building Homes Works

Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) is an award-winning, cross-government programme which sees prisoners and ex-offenders working with modular housebuilders to build low carbon homes on public and third-sector sites.

These homes are being used to address national housing pressures including affordable, social, key worker and homelessness needs.

Our success speaks for itself. 92% of prisoners who have participated in PBH have secured employment in construction upon release and our reoffending rate is less than 5% against a national average of 28%. With the support of our government partners, we are now working with 10 house builders and 9 prisons to deliver over 1100 homes across the country and are growing all the time.

benefits for prisoners

Prisoners are upskilled and receive formal construction qualifications. This means they are more likely to find employment upon release, which is proven to reduce reoffending. Prisoners are paid a wage for their work. This allows them to support their families and their resettlement post-release. They also contribute towards victim support.

benefits for landowners

PBH homes are high quality, low carbon, sustainable and energy efficient. Our aim is for the majority of our homes to be delivered on site for less than £100k per unit (end-to-end costs) and completed within 16 weeks.

PBH also offers a rental fleet of homes so public sector landowners are able to access housing quickly and without the need for capital funding.

benefits for housebuilders

Working with PBH gives housebuilders access to a motivated and reliable workforce. Prisoners are eager to learn, positively influence teams, and see the programme as a valuable second chance. PBH supports skills training, improves post-release employability, and helps reduce reoffending. It also strengthens social impact and corporate responsibility—key factors in winning future work.

OUR WORK IS CHANGING LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

OUR IMPACT

Reoffending rate is less than this against a national average of 35%.

89%

Prisoners who secured employment in construction upon release..

700+

Homes in the pipeline which will reduce affordable/social housing pressures

£100000

Average end-to-end cost of highquality, low carbon, 1 bed home.

20+

Local authority and third sector landowners involved.

Are you...

A PUBLIC OR THIRD-SECTOR LANDOWNER

…looking to deliver high-quality, low carbon housing quickly & affordably?

A PRISON

…looking to improve outcomes for prisoners?

A HOUSE BUILDER

…looking for a great workforce and want to make a difference?

AN INVESTOR

…looking to support a fantastic scheme which changes lives?