MPs surprised by Covid mega lab's Rightmove sale

The Rosalind Franklin Laboratory processed about 8.5 million Covid tests

MPs have expressed surprise at a now-mothballed coronavirus mega lab appearing for sale on Rightmove.

The Rosalind Franklin Laboratory in Leamington Spa closed in January last year and processed about 8.5 million Covid-19 tests during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, a cross-party group of MPs said its sudden sale had shocked the scientific community and called for its lab space to be used to combat antibiotic resistance.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said its future was being explored while ensuring the best value for taxpayers’ money.

MPs on the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee said ministers should use the facility, which has received more than £1bn in public funding, to research bacteria-killing viruses known as phages.

It is thought phages, a harmless-to-humans virus that infects bacteria, could be used to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The World Health Organisation has described AMR as one of the top global public health and development threats.

'Fire sale' fears

Greg Clark, chair of the committee, said phages offered a possible response to the increasing worldwide concerns about AMR.

He asked the government to consider whether the mothballed Rosalind Franklin Laboratory could provide a suitable facility for research.

"It consists of modern, secure laboratory facilities and was meant to be an important source of national resilience against future pandemics," he said.

"But the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory has suddenly appeared for sale on the property website Rightmove to the astonishment of the science and health communities.

"Our Committee's report on phages asks for the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory to be considered for this purpose, rather than be lost to the nation and to science in a fire sale."

Commercial real estate firm Avison Young said the facility was being marketed

Avison Young previously confirmed the UKHSA was the property's leaseholder and said it had been instructed to market the site as available on a leasehold basis.

The UKHSA said options were being explored for the best use of the site in the future while ensuring the best value for taxpayers’ money.

"An update will be provided in due course," a spokesperson said.

"Where necessary, specialist equipment at the Rosalind Franklin lab will be retained to support UKHSA’s ongoing pandemic preparedness work."