Science Capability in Animal Health Programme
Published 4 October 2023
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The Science Capability in Animal Health (SCAH) Programme is a major infrastructure project which will create a state-of-the-art National Science Centre for Animal Health, at The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Weybridge Science campus in New Haw, Surrey.
Investment in this internationally important facility will secure and improve the UK’s capability to anticipate and respond to emerging animal disease threats, many of which can also affect people. Three quarters of new and emerging human diseases originate in animals. By keeping animals healthy, we in turn help to keep people healthy and safeguard our economic and food security. Animal health and biosecurity also underpin around £12 billion worth of UK trade per year.
Why are we doing this work
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), provides the UK with its national capability to prevent and control animal diseases. APHA’s Weybridge campus combines world-leading science expertise with specialist scientific facilities which together play a vital role in the UK’s scientific infrastructure, one of just 30 such sites across the world. APHA has been protecting animal and plant health to benefit people, the economy, and the environment for over a century, and to ensure it can continue to do this in the face of increasing threats from animal diseases, it needs to upgrade its existing facilities to combat these growing threats.
Animal diseases have major impacts on human health and Covid has made the links between animal and human health even starker, highlighting the need for 21st century facilities, where we can continue to strengthen our understanding of animal diseases to safeguard animal and public health and underpin our pandemic preparedness.
Animal diseases also impact on the UK food industry and trade, demonstrated by outbreaks such as bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE), foot and mouth disease and most recently, avian influenza. APHA’s Weybridge site is the UK’s primary capability for managing the continuously evolving threats posed by the spread of these high-risk diseases and the agency plays a vital role in the development of surveillance techniques, diagnostics and control of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis, rabies and brucella as well as providing emergency response to animal disease outbreaks.
What we have done so far
In March 2020 the UK government committed a budget of £1.4 billion to maintain and redevelop the specialist science and diagnostic facilities at APHA’s main site in New Haw near Weybridge, Surrey.
This investment marks the start of a long-term programme of work that will transform the estate and the science it delivers, with the provision of up-to-date, modern facilities that are necessary to meet the UK’s ambitions as a scientific superpower and maintain APHA’s world-leading expertise.
Since the funding announcement at the March 2020 budget, work has begun to establish a detailed scheme for the site redevelopment.
Who we are working with
We are working with world leading experts in the field of design and delivery of specialised biocontainment science facilities.
We are working with the local community to support projects that improve our shared local environment and Defra has recently let land and buildings to Holme Farm Community Workshop and Gardens. The initiative provides a hub where local people can connect with each other and with nature to support each other and their physical and mental health.
The plans for the Weybridge Science Campus are being developed in partnership with the local community.
Consultations
Our public consultation on the proposed master outline planning application for the development took place from 5 June 2023 to 26 June 2023. It sought views from local residents and businesses and gave them the opportunity to speak to staff from APHA and the SCAH team and comment on the proposed development.
Next steps
We will submit a master outline planning application for the redevelopment scheme in early 2024. We currently expect construction of the science hub to begin in 2027, for completion by 2032.
Keep up to date with progress by following our blog.