'Ageing' biosecurity labs pledged £1bn for upgrade

The government has pledged to spend £1bn upgrading an animal health research centre in Surrey.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the investment in high-containment laboratories near Weybridge on Tuesday.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said in a June report the site, run by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), currently has a "very high" risk of site failure.

The NAO also estimated the total cost of redeveloping the site would be £2.8bn.

The government said the facilities will help manage animal disease outbreaks and the risk of future pandemics.

The announcement followed the publication of a policy paper in March, which announced the development of a "national biosecurity centre" at the site.

The centre will "provide essential research, surveillance and outbreak response to help stop diseases" damaging the UK, according to the document.

Defra also announced £200m of funding in December for the APHA to upgrade biosecurity facilities at the Surrey site.

Tuesday's announcement comes as part of a the UK's latest national security strategy.

The government said work was already underway to redevelop the site.

Temporary labs would be up and running in 2027 and 2028 while the national biosecurity centre was due to be fully operational is 2034, it added.

Runnymede Borough Council granted outline planning permission to redevelop the site in December.

APHA senior science director Jenny Stewart said Tuesday's announcement was a "vital milestone" in the project.

The funding will allow the agency's researchers to "continue their critical work in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities", she added.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: "Farmers and food producers will now be better protected from diseases, our food security strengthened, and public health better safeguarded against future pandemics."

The Surrey site houses 98% of APHA high-containment laboratories, is its main long-term animal health studies site and is the the agency's only facility that can deal with most zoonotic diseases, according to the NAO.

The public spending watchdog warned in its report that the site is "in poor condition, with ageing buildings that need major repair and replacement".

It added: "Any major failure at Weybridge could have potentially significant impacts on the UK.

"For example, APHA may not be able to deliver its emergency response during an outbreak."

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