A new facility to house long-term serious female offenders could be built on the site of the existing women's prison, the Justice Secretary has said.
Michael Matheson told MSPs that building a new facility on the Cornton Vale site in Stirling was his "preferred option" now that plans for a new women's prison in Inverclyde have been scrapped.
Mr Matheson announced on Monday that the new jail in Greenock would not be going ahead after considering the proposal since becoming Justice Secretary last year.
It was announced that Cornton Vale would be closed down following a report into how best to deal with female offenders by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini.
Dame Elish recommended in 2012 that there should be a smaller, specialist prison for long-term and high-risk prisoners, as well as regional units to hold those serving shorter sentences and those on remand.
Speaking at Holyrood today, Mr Matheson said: "I am clear that Cornton Vale prison as it is presently configured will have to close.
"It will be part of our future plans to consider how and when this will take place in line with our new direction.
"I am determined to make sure that we move to the right sort of facilities and take a new approach to how we look after women in custody."
Commenting on the future of the Cornton Vale site, he added: "My view is that we will continue to require a national facility for long-term serious offenders and my preferred option would be for that facility to be based at Cornton Vale in a new build facility.
"I believe that particular site is more accessible than Inverclyde and I think it is a site which will allow us to develop a facility which is fit for purpose, and will allows us to take forward an approach which will improve the outcome for prisoners and in doing so reducing reoffending behaviour."
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