Uncertainty over research lab plans alarms MPs

Researchers inside the existing health security laboratories analyse potential threats to society

Uncertainty over plans to build a secretive new research centre has been described as "alarming" by a panel of MPs.

Work on the laboratories in Harlow, Essex, was paused in March 2023 after years of delays and costs rising from £530m to £3.2bn.

The facility, designed to prepare the UK for dangerous pathogens, was branded a "critical piece of infrastructure" at a meeting of the government's public accounts committee.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to "get the best possible outcome" of land earmarked for the centre, which was purchased for £30m in 2017.

More than £400m has already been spent on the project, according to a National Audit Office report.

It was born out of concerns about the high-containment laboratories in Porton Down in Wiltshire, and Colindale in north London.

The sites have been essential for detecting and studying the most threatening pathogens, including Ebola and Covid-19.

Cross-party MPs said the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) "lacks a grip of the financial pressures it faces" when they met.

They criticised delays in decision-making about whether or not the Harlow project would continue.

"There is little to show for the £400m spent so far on the development of Harlow health security campus, with no decision yet on the future of the site," MPs wrote.

Skyrocketing costs and changes in government have stalled the project in Harlow

They challenged the department to ensure it had "effective oversight" of major projects.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the committee, said the Harlow scheme remained a "vexed question".

"Of all the projects to have been poorly overseen, the lack of clear direction on a critical piece of infrastructure designed to keep us all safe from infectious disease is particularly alarming," the Conservative added.

The chancellor is expected to announce a decision on the site's future in the spending review by 11 June.

In a letter to the Labour MP for Harlow, Chris Vince, Reeves said the government was "actively considering" its options.

"If a new facility is not built at Harlow, I would like to reassure you that we will ensure the site is used so the people of Harlow get the best possible outcome in terms of jobs and public service infrastructure," she said.