A UK-first, the prison will based at Full Sutton in East Yorkshire and is expected to create over 600 jobs.

Nearly 1,500 prisoners will reside at the UK’s first electric prison which is set to open in 2025.

The site will run solely on electricity where others still rely on gas. It will also use solar panels and heat pump technology resulting in 78 per cent less energy useage than HMP Wormwood Scrubs and cutting energy costs by over £1.1 million.

It will draw 18GWh less energy from the gas and electricity networks every year than HMP Belmarsh. 

A competition will be launched later this year to find an operator to run the prison. Companies will have to set out how they would work with local businesses to train-up prisoners with skills most sought by local employers.

The prison will also be supporting former prisoners- at least 50 ex-offenders are set to be employed by construction firm Kier for the project - who have the £400m contract. 

A name has not yet been chosen.

Minister for Prisons and Probation Damian Hinds said: “The new prison at Full Sutton will protect the public and the public purse, using the latest technology to cut energy costs.

“Giving prisoners the skills in demand by local businesses will help them find work and turn over a new leaf – cutting reoffending and making our streets safer.”