Huge new biosecurity centre could see hundreds of jobs move from Porton Down to Essex
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the move will bring scientists closer to their partners in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.
Research and testing is currently split across UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sites in Porton Down in Wiltshire and Colindale in London. The move will bring them under one roof in Harlow.
For 10 years the government has said it wanted its health agency under one roof, but it leaves around 900 jobs at the Porton Down site in limbo.
The government is investing billions of pounds in the project and says the National Biosecurity Centre (NBC) will increase the speed and scale of research into dangerous pathogens and life-saving vaccines, boosting healthcare and economic growth, and protecting UK national security.
Once complete, the NBC will be the largest in Europe.
The Government says it will create around 1,600 new jobs to support construction.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "This transformational investment in the UK's national biosecurity will better protect the British public from future health emergencies, boost the life sciences sector and create new jobs.
"COVID-19 taught us how crucial it is to be able to respond quickly to new emerging threats, and the new National Biosecurity Centre will allow us to do exactly that — ensuring Britain remains a world-leader in pandemic preparedness.
"Harlow will become a scientific hub, with The National Biosecurity Centre exploring new ways to treat illnesses, improve people's health and save more lives.
"By backing innovation, research and life sciences, we will make our NHS fit for the future, and cement the UK as a life sciences superpower as part of our Plan for Change."
The Government says it's taking lessons from COVID-19 and boosting vaccine manufacturing and research capabilities.
Dyfed Alsop, interim UKHSA chief executive, said: "This is fantastic news for the UK and will mean that we can continue to offer the best possible protection for people's health for generations to come.
"A brand-new facility at Harlow will bring together our world leading public health science and emergency response capabilities, putting us in a stronger position to protect the public and keep people safe."
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: "The National Biosecurity Centre will help to strengthen the UK life sciences sector for decades to come, by backing our world-renowned researchers with highly advanced facilities to develop life-saving treatments in the face of new health threats.
"By enabling further collaboration between researchers at the cutting-edge and industry, the new hub can help drive the economic growth that benefits us all, building on the highly skilled new jobs already being delivered, and supporting our Plan for Change."
Work to prepare NBC for operation will begin as soon as possible, with the first facilities due to open by the mid-2030s and the whole site scheduled to be in operation by 2038.
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