Final decision due on Porton Down science labs
A decision is finally expected on whether to move hundreds of government science jobs out of Wiltshire to Essex.
The Health Security Agency at Porton Down researches how to tackle the world's most infectious diseases, and prepare the UK for future pandemics.
Over the last 15 years plans have been worked up to relocate its 900 workers to new facilities in Harlow, but the estimated costs have spiralled - ministers expect a final decision in Wednesday's government spending review.
The MP covering Porton Down - Conservative John Glen - said: "It's taken 10 years to still be in doubt whether this should still happen and the costs have gone up six-fold."
The National Audit Office reported the cost of the whole project is estimated to be £3.2bn, a figure more than 500% higher than the initial forecast of £530m.
When it was officially announced in 2015 that the labs would move to Harlow, Essex, the MP there at the time said he was pleased and it would "bring thousands of jobs".
Speaking to the BBC this week, Mr Glen said the new build would be "dressed up" as a world-class hub.
"But Porton Down already is world-class," he said.
"We've already got the world's best scientists doing amazing collaborative work."
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He added staff get paid to do work for other countries, including the US, and when unions asked workers there several years ago, most did not want to move.
He said: "There's an established pattern of activity there. We do need more investment but not the extent of building and refurbishing an unsuitable lab in Harlow."
Scientific work has been going on at Porton Down for 100 years, but much the infrastructure is old.
However, Mr Glen said there had been "additional investment" because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so the government needs to "be realistic".
"This is an opportunity to save money, to reverse George Osborne's ambitious decision but still invest in science and an established rhythm of work," he said.
No construction work has started at the Harlow site, which is being maintained by staff to keep it secure.
The government said it had been considering options and whether building a new facility is still viable.
It estimates if the Harlow centre is built, it will not open before 2036 - some 15 years behind schedule.
When Health Secretary Wes Streeting was asked about the possible move in March, he said: "[This] has been running around the system so long that it is now used in a case study for senior civil servant recruitment," he said.
"The worst decision is indecision.
"It has plagued us for too long and I hope we can soon report back to the house with a decision on that for everyone's benefit."
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