Her decision comes three years after Chorley Council refused the application for Ulnes Walton jail over concerns inmates in the area would out-number residents in the nearest village

The jail will hold 1,700 inmates and be built on green belt land on the border of Chorley and Leyland, close to HMP Garth and HMP Wymott.

Rayner said the 800,000 sq ft Category C prison should go-ahead citing the need for the development in terms of capacity and the project’s economic benefits.

Pick Everard designed the prison scheme with Mace, Ramboll and Atkins Realis on the client team.