The category C prison has stood empty since July 2024 after high levels of radon were found in prisoners’ accommodation. Prison bosses later faced formal censure proceedings after inmates and staff were exposed to dangerous levels of the naturally occurring radioactive gas.
A Dispatches and Sunday Times investigation found the Duchy of Cornwall signed a £37m agreement in 2022 to lease the prison to the Ministry of Justice, generating rental income of £1.5m a year over 25 years.
Prince William’s private secretary, Ian Patrick, previously said: “Prince William knows that for many people in Princetown, the prison has long been part of the fabric of the community.
“Its closure has created genuine uncertainty, not just about jobs and businesses, but about the future of the town itself.
“The duke felt strongly that, while those questions remain unanswered, the benefit of this income should remain in the community, helping local people shape that future.”
The initiative forms part of the Duchy’s wider plan to invest more than £500m in communities, housing, renewable energy, farming and environmental projects over the next decade.
