New world-leading public health labs to be created in Harlow

The government is to spend 350 million pounds to create new world-class public health labs in Harlow.

Based on the site currently owned by GlaxoSmithKline, the investment will create a leading centre for research, health improvement and protection, allowing the continued development of world-leading work on international health threats such as Ebola.

As part of this move, Public Health England will relocate some of its operations from its existing facilities at Porton Down into the new Harlow labs, providing the organisation with newer infrastructure to support its work.

The decision from the government comes following Public Health England's submission of an Outline Business Case to the government in July 2014.

Health minister Jane Ellison said: "This significant investment in public health science will keep the UK at the forefront of the work for global health security."

The move will also strengthen the region's status as the UK location with the greatest concentration of academic and commercial expertise in life sciences.