Prisoners are to be paid the minimum wage to build eco-homes.
Inmates at HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire, will build panels for a low carbon, modular house for Agile Homes.
They will be paid £8.72 an hour, compared with the usual 72p inmates earn.
The homes will be assembled in Torquay with the help of prisoners released on temporary licence from Channings Wood, near Newton Abbot in Devon.
The scheme aims to allow prisoners to save enough money for a deposit and three months’ rent on a property.
If it is successful the scheme will be expanded to other jails.
