Laing O’Rourke has signed two contracts with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to build multiple disease prevention facilities as part of the National Biosecurity Centre at Weybridge programme
Laing O’Rourke has been awarded the contracts, with an estimated value of more than £900m, under the Crown Commercial Services ‘Lot 5’ Framework.
Design details are now being finalised to deliver the two main Science Hub buildings as part of a major project to modernise and consolidate the Animal and Plant Health Agency campus.
Pre-construction of the hubs will begin this summer, with work commencing in 2027 and completing in the 2030’s.
“Pioneers of modern methods of construction”
Peter Lyons, managing director of Europe Hub, Laing O’Rourke, said: “We are proud to have been awarded this flagship contract. It’s another demonstration of the calibre of our people in the science and research sector.
“We are in the unique position of having in-house specialists that gives us the ability to deliver complex projects like this end-to-end.
“As pioneers of modern methods of construction we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in service of humanity and playing our part in the UK Government’s growth agenda, this project is a perfect fit for Laing O’Rourke.
“It is great to work with DEFRA who are champions of a progressive and collaborative procurement approach. The early work we did together will help make sure we can deliver a fantastic project for the UK.”
“Critical work in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities”
DEFRA announced the building of the National Biosecurity Centre in March. The centre is unique, with only 30 similar facilities worldwide, and is home to laboratories and medical expertise facilities for the prevention of disease outbreaks affecting both humans and animals.
With the full National Biosecurity Centre in operation by 2034. The network will initially consist of three government-owned facilities: The UK Health Security Agency maintains a network of specialist reference laboratories to monitor, warn and prepare for public health threats to the UK.
Jenny Stewart, senior science director at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, said: “This funding is a vital milestone in the delivery of a world-leading facility that will protect the UK from animal disease threats for decades to come.
“Our scientists and specialists at Weybridge are at the heart of the UK’s disease surveillance and response capability and provide a global centre of expertise.
“Investment on this scale will enable them to continue their critical work in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities, supported by the very latest technologies.”
This National Health Centre will be built at a vital time for public health. The government updated the schedule for the New Hospitals Programme in January, seeing some projects get delayed by up to an extra decade, to 2040.
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