[1] Parc Prison was developed via a Private Finance Initiative contract in January 1996[2] and built by Costain Group at a cost of £82 million, opening in November 1997.

[3] Alongside HMP Altcourse, Parc was one of the first UK prisons to be financed, designed and owned by the private sector.

Failures in the security technology, anti-English racism from Welsh inmates, and a high number of suicides were highlighted as concerns by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in a 1999 report.

The report criticised the lack of separate healthcare facilities for juveniles, the inadequate level of dental provision, and poor staff morale.

Ten inmates died within 3 months, prompting protests outside the prison and calls for the government to take over the running of Parc from G4S.