Aug222017

Press release: PHE submits plans for world leading science campus

HM Government

Plans for a world leading science campus in Harlow are a step further forward after Public Health England (PHE) submitted a planning application to Harlow District Council following extensive consultation with stakeholders and the local community over the last 18 months.

Made up of more than 3,000 documents and nearly 300 drawings and images, the outline application sets out PHE’s vision for turning the former GlaxoSmithKline site at the Pinnacles Industrial Estate into a centre of excellence for public health research, improvement and protection.

This milestone follows PHE’s announcement in July that it had acquired the site.

If approved, the plans will see PHE co-locate most of its current facilities at Porton in Wiltshire, Colindale in north London and its central London headquarters to a single, state-of-the-art science campus. PHE Harlow will bring together experts in:

  • cancer
  • mental health
  • nutrition
  • smoking
  • alcohol
  • diabetes
  • dementia
  • infectious diseases
  • environmental hazards
  • climate change

The proposed development is expected to provide a major boost to the local economy with 2,750 staff to be based at the currently vacant site by 2024, with possible future expansion to 3,250. Thousands of construction-related jobs would be created during the development of the site, of which it is hoped a significant number would be recruited locally. Building work is expected to start in 2019 with phased occupation starting in 2021.

To help develop the next generation of scientists and meet its future recruitment needs, PHE will pursue academic and commercial partnerships and work closely with local schools and colleges to offer work experience and apprenticeships. The plans include a large visitor area where school groups and the local community would meet PHE scientists, attend talks, workshops and learn about public health, science and research.

The planning application also includes a Travel and Visitor Plan, which outlines car parking provision and sets out sustainable travel and transport plans for the site. These include shuttle buses to and from Harlow Town railway station as well as car-share and cycle-to-work schemes.

PHE is committed to making Harlow its home and to being a good neighbour. The planning application outlines PHE’s longer term commitments to Harlow, through investment in highways and public transport, early years childcare and contributing to Harlow’s important history of public art and sculpture.

Richard Gleave, Deputy Chief Executive, PHE said:

I am delighted that we have now submitted our plans for consideration, following extensive discussions with the local community, relevant authorities and other stakeholders. We want to make Harlow our home and we believe the science campus will bring long-term benefits for the area, as well as unique opportunities for public health research on a national and international scale.

To view the full application please visit www.bit.ly/PHEHarlow.

  1. Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health. Follow us on Twitter: @PHE_uk and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland.

  2. PHE submitted an Outline Business Case to Government in July 2014. An interim decision was taken in September 2015 to move the majority of PHE functions from Porton to Harlow. In November 2015 the Government supported a further proposal to move PHE science facilities at Colindale to Harlow to create a single integrated campus. It has committed £400million capital investment for the project.

  3. It is hoped the public health science campus will be fully operational by 2024, with the first building work expected to start in 2019 and a phased occupation from 2021.

Aug222017

Labour’s energy price cap would have saved average consumer £1149 since 2010

Labour

Labour’s
energy price cap would have saved average consumer £1149 since 2010

Labour
would introduce an immediate emergency price cap to ensure that the average
household energy bill remains below £1000 per year, while we transition to a
fairer system for bill payers. If this policy had been in place since 2010, it
would have saved the average consumer £1149 and £142 per year going forward on
their energy bills.

Britain’s
energy market is broken. One-in-ten households are in fuel poverty, yet the
directors of the Big Six energy companies paid themselves a combined £12m last
year. According to the Competition and Markets Authority, customers are
overcharged an enormous £2bn every year, yet the Big Six have just increased
energy prices by 8-15 per cent.

Before
the election, the Prime Minister promised to knock £100 off energy bills for 17
million customers. However, the Government have abandoned this promise, and
have only said that they will take action to protect “vulnerable” customers.

For the
majority of households facing crippling energy bills, the Government’s response
is to tell consumers to shop around for the best deal. But 70 per cent of Big
Six customers remain on their supplier’s most expensive tariffs; only 5 per
cent of people intended to switch supplier in the next 12 months; and it is
those who struggle most with crippling bills who are least likely to switch.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy, said:

“Working
people are suffering rip-off price hikes by the Big Six energy companies whilst
at the same time many bosses continue to carry on paying themselves obscene
amounts. That’s the Tories’ rigged economy in action and they will do nothing
about it.

“The next Labour Government will take the
tough action needed on the energy companies. We’ll impose a hard price cap on
energy bills that will immediately end rip-off price increases, and we’re
prepared to take on the Big Six to do it. Labour is standing up for the people
against the elite.”