Mace to oversee delivery of world-leading animal welfare and resilience facility

Under the partnership, Mace will oversee the delivery of a state-of-the-art centre at the heart of the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) campus in Surrey; a facility already recognised for leading the way in research into animal welfare and resilience to animal-borne disease.

As the Programme Delivery Partner, across an initial five-year period, Mace will provide a full suite of project and programme management services, as well as PMO and planning, cost and commercial management and business advisory capabilities.

The Mace team will be responsible for identifying and implementing innovative solutions such as modern methods of construction (MMC) and digital command centres, developing tailored contracting strategies and advising on delivery requirements such as constructability and logistics.

The SCAH masterplan, which has already been through a public consultation, aims to consolidate science operations on the site to enable APHA to work more efficiently and effectively.

This will include the refurbishment of some existing buildings, the demolition of old stock, and the construction of new world-class science facilities. There will also be a landscape and biodiversity framework that will restore and enhance the site through features such as green roofs, tree planting and permeable paving. Mace will bring its experience in retrofit and broader responsible business expertise to guide the strategy.

With the government having committed significant funding to the wider APHA estate, the SCAH programme highlights the UK’s commitment to safeguarding animal and public health. 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, with three quarters of new and emerging human diseases originating in animals.

Jason Millett, Deputy Chief Executive of Mace, said:

“The SCAH programme is about providing 21st-century facilities that allow the UK to continue to strengthen its understanding of animal diseases to safeguard animal and public health and underpin pandemic preparedness.

“At Mace, we’re striving toward building a more connected, resilient, and sustainable world, and I can hardly think of a better example to prove this. With the impacts of Covid-19 still fresh in our memories and increasing threats from animal diseases, this is an exciting opportunity to directly support global health and welfare for both animals and humans.”