Public Health England to move from Porton Down in Wiltshire

Salisbury MP John Glen MP has spoken of his disappointment that Public Health England is to transferring from Porton Down in Wiltshire. He says the question now is how to maximise the opportunities for the future.

It's been confirmed that Public Health England's research facilities will transfer from Porton Down in Wiltshire. The government has announced it's to invest 350 million pounds in a new laboratory facility in Harlow and much of the work carried out at Porton Down will be moved there.

In a statement Wiltshire Council claims Porton has a bright future with many of positive developments ahead, following the announcement today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the relocation of Public Health England.

Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “Whilst it is disappointing to learn of this decision, it is not unexpected and the council has been working with the Government and other stakeholders for some time looking at the potential future of the Porton campus in acknowledgement of the uncertainty surrounding the future of PHE at this location. It is important to recognise that under the current proposals not all of PHE’s activities will be relocating and that substantial elements of the manufacturing, for example, including Porton BioPharma, will still remain. The MoD is investing around £115m on projects which will see around 650 jobs relocating to the Porton campus."

A jointly-funded study with PHE is currently underway to understand the assets that exist at Porton. It is likely to include an examination of how vacated buildings at the current PHE Porton facility can be reused to accommodate new activity and commercial opportunities.