HMP Lancaster Farms

A prison that has changed role

In shortOpened in 1993 as a remand centre and young offender institution, Lancaster Farms has been a category C resettlement prison for adults since 2014.

The Inspectorate called it a modern, reasonably well-appointed campus with six residential units and well-maintained open grounds.

• The IMB’s 2025-26 report describes a large, open central area with grass and flowerbeds, and large communal spaces on each wing.
• Buildings are generally in fair repair, though some are beginning to show wear.
• Most wing accommodation is single cells, although the number of double cells with bunk beds has increased.
• Four cells adapted for prisoners with reduced mobility, and a segregation unit holding 12.

Who is held, then and now

In shortA sentenced population that has shifted from long-stay Lancashire and Cumbria men to short-sentence men from Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

• Held, October 2022544Operational capacity 560
• Arrivals from HMP PrestonAlmost 80%All prisoners were sentenced
• On licence recall25%About 70 released into the community each month
• Occupancy to January 202699%+At or near maximum capacity (IMB)

The IMB reports the population has changed since. The prison originally catered mostly for men from Lancashire and Cumbria who stayed for years, but with national population pressures most prisoners now come from Greater Manchester and Merseyside, often with very short sentences left.

In some months over 100 men enter or leave. A complex care unit for 18 men, many neurodivergent, is described by the IMB as impressive.

What inspectors found in 2022

In shortAn ‘encouraging inspection’ with a positive, safe and respectful culture but too little purposeful activity; treat it as background, being almost four years old.

• SafetyReasonably good
• RespectReasonably good
• Purposeful activityNot sufficiently good
• Preparation for releaseReasonably goodImproved from 2018

HMIP’s unannounced inspection in autumn 2022 (report published 2 December 2022) described the culture as positive, safe and respectful. Prisoners spoke well of staff, and inspectors observed relaxed and friendly interactions.

Ofsted judged education, skills and work ‘requires improvement’. Because this inspection is almost four years old, treat it as background.

Staffing evidence

In shortA settled, engaged staff group in 2022; the IMB later flagged detached duty and hospital escorts reducing staffing.

For officers, the relevant 2022 finding is that the prison had a settled staff group.

HMIP, 2022

The prison had a settled staff group. Leaders were relying on new staffing profiles which they said would better target resources and help improve the regime, and inspectors noted a recently appointed equality manager. They concluded the prison had ‘an engaged staff group’ and potential to be high performing.

IMB, 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026

The Governor continued to tell the Board that the prison is ‘well staffed’, but the Board was concerned when multiple officers were on detached duty or emergency hospital escorts were required, which reduces staffing for the rest of the prison. It also asked how the Governor would ensure all officers wear and switch on body-worn video cameras.

Expansion: four new houseblocks

In shortThe Ministry of Justice announced 240 extra places on 14 September 2026; timings differ between the MoJ and the IMB, so check current plans.

• New places240From 584 to 824; four houseblocks and a workshop (MoJ, 14 September 2026)
• MoJ completion targetEnd of 2026
• IMB expected openingEarly 2027
• Education hours cut41%From autumn 2025 (IMB)

The MoJ release says the new build includes modern security infrastructure such as reinforced windows to counter drone smuggling.

The IMB, writing earlier in 2026, says the four new residential units caused construction and infrastructure work including a relocated multi-use games area, new workshops and planned changes to the kitchen and segregation unit. The two timings differ slightly, so check current plans.

Working at Lancaster Farms

In shortOn the national Band 3 pay scale with no market supplement listed as at 3 October 2026.

Lancaster Farms is on the national Band 3 pay scale with no market supplement listed on the HMPPS pay page as at 3 October 2026. See the pay hub and prison officer pay bands guide for the 2026/27 figures.

• We found no establishment-specific recruitment page on the Prison and Probation Jobs site, so apply through the national route described in becoming a prison officer.
• The prison’s resettlement role, relatively settled workforce and planned growth are worth weighing alongside the 2022 inspection’s date.
• Our guides to prison categories and prison officer jobs by region help you compare it with other North West options, and the prison finder lists them.