PPS has secured a contract for the design, construction, management and financing of an 800 place Category B prison for adult males at Marchington, East Staffordshire. 200 of these places will be set aside for a therapeutic community, where volunteer prisoners address their offending behaviour through group therapy over the course of 1-2 years of their sentence. The award of preferred bidder status was previously announced on 2 December 1998.

The value of the 25 year contract is worth approximately £85 million in capital project costs and approximately £235 million for the management of the facility, at March 1999 prices. The prison is due to open in July 2001.

PPS is a joint venture company owned 50% by Serco Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Group plc, and 50% by Wackenhut Corrections (UK) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wackenhut Corrections Corporation.