UK invests billions in a National Biosecurity Centre at Harlow, Essex: Europe’s largest hub for pathogen research, vaccine development, and pandemic preparedness
The UK Government has unveiled a significant investment in a new National Biosecurity Centre (NBC) designed to strengthen the country’s commitment to health security. Set to be based in Essex, the centre will play a central role in enhancing the UK’s long-term pandemic resilience and scientific capabilities.
World-leading biosecurity centre to protect the UK
The biosecurity centre will focus on accelerating the pace and scale of research into dangerous pathogens and life-saving vaccines, thereby enhancing healthcare and economic growth while safeguarding national security.
Billions of pounds will be invested in the project, including £250 million over this Parliament, for vital research and testing that is currently split across UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sites in Porton Down and Colindale under one roof.
Once complete, the biosecurity centre will be the largest in Europe, creating around 1,600 new jobs to support construction of the site and enabling the development of new treatments and vaccines.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This transformational investment in the UK’s national biosecurity centre will better protect the British public from future health emergencies, boost the life sciences sector, and create new jobs.
COVID-19 taught us the importance of being able to respond quickly to emerging threats, and the new NBC will enable us to do exactly that, ensuring Britain remains a world leader in pandemic preparedness.
Harlow will become a scientific hub, with the NBC exploring new ways to treat illnesses, improve people’s health, and save more lives.
By backing innovation, research, and life sciences, we will make our NHS fit for the future, and cement the UK as a life sciences superpower as part of our Plan for Change.”
Dyfed Alsop, interim UKHSA chief executive, said: “This is fantastic news for the UK and will mean that we can continue to offer the best possible protection for people’s health for generations to come.
A brand-new biosecurity centre at Harlow will bring together our world-leading public health science and emergency response capabilities, putting us in a stronger position to protect the public and keep people safe.
This marks a significant investment in our future, ensuring that the UK remains a key player in global health security and that we are better prepared against a growing range of health threats.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “The NBC will help to strengthen the UK life sciences sector for decades to come, by backing our world-renowned researchers with highly advanced facilities to develop life-saving treatments in the face of new health threats.
By enabling further collaboration between researchers at the cutting-edge and industry, the new hub can help drive the economic growth that benefits us all, building on the highly skilled new jobs already being delivered, and supporting our Plan for Change.”
Supporting the 2025 National Security Strategy
This new biosecurity centre will form part of a recently announced network of NBCs under the 2025 National Security Strategy. This network will strengthen and formalise existing collaborations between UKHSA, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) to bolster the UK’s resilience to deliberate, accidental or naturally occurring biological incidents.
Work to prepare the biosecurity centre will begin as soon as possible, with the first facilities expected to open by the mid-2030s and the entire site scheduled to be operational by 2038.
