Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 March 2025
Correspondence from the Minister for Biosecurity regarding the National Biosecurity Centre, Weybridge, dated 24 February 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Animal and plant health
Summary
Baroness Hayman of Ullock informs the EFRA Committee Chair that the government is rebranding the Animal and Plant Health Agency site at Weybridge as the National Biosecurity Centre – Weybridge. The Minister updates on redevelopment progress: planning consent secured, design work underway, and early construction starting, supported by £208m announced by the Chancellor in Autumn 2024.
Key findings
- Planning consent for the Weybridge redevelopment was secured at the end of 2024
- Design work on new science hubs is on track; early construction projects preparing the site are underway
- Chancellor announced £208m funding to support the next stages of redevelopment work
- The site hosts the largest concentration of global disease reference laboratories in the world and is the sole global reference laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance
- Government proposes rebranding APHA Weybridge as 'National Biosecurity Centre – Weybridge' to recognise the facility's importance
Tone
ProceduralTopics
biosecuritypublic-financescience-infrastructureanimal-health
Key actors
Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Alistair Carmichael MP, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Chancellor of the Exchequer
Notable line
“APHA Weybridge is a global centre of expertise; it contains the largest concentration of global disease reference laboratories anywhere in the world and is the sole global …”
Key Quotes
“Planning consent for the project was secured at the end of last year, design work on the new science hubs is on track, and early construction projects to prepare the site for the main redevelopment are underway.”
“APHA Weybridge is a global centre of expertise; it contains the largest concentration of global disease reference laboratories anywhere in the world and is the sole global reference laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗