The new facility, the CL2 Laboratory, is designed to support 90 scientists researching livestock, avian and vector-borne viral diseases within Containment Level 2 protocols.

The two-storey, 4,000 m2 laboratory building targets a BREEAM Excellent rating.

This is being delivered through a combination of passive design, intelligent lighting and heat recovery, roof-top photovoltaic arrays and air-source heat pumps.

The project is the smallest of two building schemes planned for the research site as part of the £100m phase two of its development programme.

A  larger £70m lab, which will concentrate on research into avian viruses, particularly those that pose a threat to humans, is also presently out to bid.

Shepherd Construction, which built the £100m phase one main livestock laboratories, is in a bid race with Bouygues, Laing O’Rourke and M&W for the project.