Rachel Reeves says new site being explored for Harlow UKHSA lab
New home for secretive research labs is considered
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Lewis Adams
BBC News, Essex
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Public Health England
The government purchased its existing site in Harlow for £30m
A new site to house one of the UK's most secretive research centres is being considered by the government.
Hundreds of millions of pounds have already been spent on land in Harlow, Essex, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the facility could instead open elsewhere in the town.
Plans for the centre, which would prepare the UK for dangerous pathogens, have faced years of delays and had costs rise from £530m to £3.2bn.
In a letter seen by the BBC, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said a decision on its future would be made in the spending review by 11 June.
Writing to the Labour MP for Harlow, Chris Vince, she said the government was "actively considering" options to renew the UK's high containment laboratories.
"A new site in Harlow is one of the options being considered," Reeves said.
The existing site earmarked for development, once owned by GlaxoSmithKline, was purchased for £30m in 2017.
But the project has been paused since March 2023, despite more than £400m having already been spent on it, according to a National Audit Office report.
Reuters
Rachel Reeves has written to Harlow's Labour MP to let him know a decision would be made on the location for a new high containment laboratory by 11 June
In her letter, Reeves said: "The government understands the pressing need for a decision to be made."
The chancellor said if the project was scrapped, she would ensure the site was used to achieve "the best possible outcome" for jobs and infrastructure in Harlow.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) officials, who are leading the project, estimate it will open no sooner than 2036 - some 15 years later than planned.
The scheme was born out of concerns about the ageing high-containment laboratories in Porton Down, Wiltshire, and Colindale in north London.
These sites are essential for detecting and studying the most dangerous pathogens, including Ebola and Covid-19.
Vince shared concerns about the project stalling and called for it to be "brought back to the table".
He said schoolchildren would benefit from having a "world-class science centre on their doorstep".
"If we are successful and the government gives the development the green light, it would be one of the biggest investments in Harlow since its creation in 1947," the MP added.
A UKHSA spokesman previously said staff were "hoping for a decision in the coming months".
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