HMP Leyhill is located in between the M5 and Charfield, and is an open prison with a history of prisoners leaving without permission.
South Gloucestershire Council has given the Ministry of Justice planning permission to build new houseblocks.
The prison population is almost doubling, with these specific plans for two houseblocks housing a further 120 prisoners, among other plans which were already permitted.
The expansion was approved by councillors on the development management committee on Thursday, March 5.
Council planning officers said the committee should not look into how the prison operates.
They first heard how the absconding prisoners impacted people living nearby.
Cyrus Contractor, representing Cromhall Parish Council, said: “As far as the community is concerned, Leyhill is really not just an open prison, it’s actually a porous prison.
“There is a quantity of absconds which goes back over five years, of criminals just basically walking out and committing offences. These are criminals with some very serious crimes under their belt. These are murderers, attempted murderers, rapists, paedophiles, GBH and various levels of assault. Actual day-to-day pressure on our community is significant as a result of the existence of the prison.
“We have to conduct our lives with greater awareness and caution because of these absconds. In January a lady was assaulted in her home.”
He claimed the increase in prison population would then lead to rising numbers of prisoners absconded and committing violent attacks.
He called on more safety measures at HMP Leyhill to reduce how many prisoners absconded and protect people living nearby.
He added: “If you approve this application you are in fact approving additional violence in our community.
“I know that sounds accusatory and a horrible, bold statement but it really is a piece of simple mathematics. There should be no absconds.
“The fact that we have to put up with two to three a year and assaults on people in our community is abhorrent.”
The prison houses men coming to the end of their sentences or just serving short sentences.
Just last month, two Leyhill prisoners were given extra jail sentences after absconding from the prison on New Year’s Day.
Daniel Washbourne, 40, and Aaron Thomas, 39, were sentenced on Monday, February 9 and Thursday, February 12 respectively.
They pleaded guilty to one count of escaping lawful custody in relation to absconding from HMP Leyhill on New Year’s Day. Thomas was arrested within 48 hours.
He received a prison sentence of six months to be served consecutively to his original term.
Washbourne was arrested in Bristol on Wednesday, January 7.
He will also serve an additional six months in prison.
Court proceedings continue in relation to a third man charged with escaping from Leyhill on the same day and a robbery on New Year’s Eve.
Both Washbourne and Thomas were serving sentences for violent offences – Washbourne with previous convictions including false imprisonment and violence against the person.
Thomas was serving a custodial sentence for violent offences, including an assault in which he stabbed a man in the neck with a broken bottle during a street attack in Warwickshire, for which he had received an extended sentence for public protection.
Their disappearance triggered a multi‑force manhunt and public appeals with CCTV stills.
The trio’s escape from Leyhill led to questions in Parliament.
Justice minister Alex Davies‑Jones said the three were discovered missing during routine roll checks, and insisted there had been ‘no recent intelligence to suggest they were likely to abscond when they were moved to open conditions in 2025 on Parole Board advice.
She said a review of Leyhill would be completed within 20 days and stressed that absconding was taken “extremely seriously”, with efforts focused on recapturing the men and keeping victims informed through the Victim Contact Scheme.
Opposition MPs, including Robert Jenrick, then the Conservative Party’s shadow justice secretary, accused the Government of compromising public safety and presiding over a prisons system ‘at breaking point’ after years of underfunding.
