HMP Lancaster Farms will grow from 584 to 824 places with drone-resistant cells, while 152 places in prefabricated units are going up at HMP Kirklevington Grange.
Inspectors found a thriving open prison near Stockton-on-Tees that got men into work, though they raised concerns about strip-searching, temporary release checks and shabby older wings.
The inspectorate's report on the open prison near Stockton-on-Tees, published in January 2020, found a safe, decent and purposeful jail, though it urged faster progress into paid work.
