Part of Featherstone super prison will be pulled down

?The Ministry of Justice is to pull down part of the controversial new Midlands £150 million super prison after it was built a storey higher than agreed, it emerged today.

Contractors Kier installed a 41ft steel framework at the new Category B prison's visitor centre in Featherstone despite having secured planning permission for a 33ft structure — and were shopped to council bosses by eagle-eyed residents. Now it has been ruled the building must be reduced in size, and new plans have been lodged for a separate building.

These could add an extra storey to a separate building in the 46-acre complex — close to other structures of similar height but away from the view of neighbouring houses.

Prison bosses had hoped a retrospective planning application would allow them to keep the bigger building, but it was refused by South Staffordshire Council in October after a campaign by more than 100 residents and MP Gavin Williamson.

Mr Williamson held showdown talks with Crispin Blunt, Minister for Prisons and Probation, about the way contractors were handling construction of the 1,620-inmate jail.

He said: "After my meeting with Crispin Blunt I was told privately that if the local authority chose not to back the plans the Ministry would not appeal. It is brilliant news that this has proven to be the case.

"The fact is the developments should never have gone ahead in their previous form and they should have been corrected without a revised planning application even being submitted. I found that disgraceful.

"This building directly overlooked residents and was entirely inappropriate. The credit has to go to local residents and councillors for making their views so clear on this and making sure it has been done."

The Ministry of Justice has chosen not to comment.