The prison service has no plans to return young men to its £140m Aberdeenshire "superjail".

It emerged earlier this year the male youth wing of HMP Grampian has been empty since [a riot in May 2014](http://The prison service has no plans to return young men to its £140m Aberdeenshire "superjail". It emerged earlier this year the male youth wing of HMP Grampian has been empty since a riot in May 2014 which caused £145,000 of damage to the prison. The jail was built with the intention of holding young prisoners from the north east close to their families. However, the Scottish Prison Service now believes they are better off at its young offenders institute at Polmont, Falkirk. A spokesman said: "Polmont is the best place for the young men to be at this time, given the regime that is in place, access to a wide range of services and the variety of opportunities available to them. "Significant investment has been made in HM YOI Polmont to support the enhanced range of opportunities available. "We are in a fortunate position whereby the number of young offenders is at its lowest for a long time, so we are taking advantage of that to allow us to provide targeted interventions with the support of a number of partners.") which caused £145,000 of damage to the prison.

The jail was built with the intention of holding young prisoners from the north east close to their families.

However, the Scottish Prison Service now believes they are better off at its young offenders institute at Polmont near Falkirk.

A spokesman said: "Polmont is the best place for the young men to be at this time, given the regime that is in place, access to a wide range of services and the variety of opportunities available to them.

"Significant investment has been made in HM YOI Polmont to support the enhanced range of opportunities available.

"We are in a fortunate position whereby the number of young offenders is at its lowest for a long time so we are taking advantage of that to allow us to provide targeted interventions with the support of a number of partners."

HMP Grampian was intended to be the first jail in Scotland to house men, women and young offenders under the same roof.

During a visit following the riot, inspectors said described it as "disappointing" that areas of the "highest-quality prison estate in Scotland" were lying empty.

North east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said he believes the youth wing at HMP Grampian Is likely to remain empty permanently.

He said: "When HMP Grampian first opened it was heralded with great fanfare as a prison that would be community-facing.

"It was said that it would allow young offenders to be near home so that they could keep in close contact with their families and as a result improve their chances of rehabilitation.

"It would now appear that the SNP have performed a complete U-turn on their original policy for housing young offenders."

Mr Macdonald added: "Keeping them at Polmont means they have access to a wider range of services in prison but it will make it harder for them to keep in touch with their families in the north east.

"Research suggests that, if young offenders are in close contact with their families, they are more likely to be rehabilitated and reintegrated successfully into their communities on release.

"This will mean fewer crimes being committed and it will also give these young people a second chance.

"I am sorry the SNP has seen fit to change its policy on young offenders from the north east in what appears to be an entirely off-hand way."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government added: "The concentration of young offenders at Polmont is an operational decision by the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, however, it is crucial that young offenders have access to high quality programmes and services that support rehabilitation and reintegration and where the best and most relevant expertise is available."

Six men, all in their 20s and 30s, are on trial accused of being involved in the riot at HMP Grampian.