The Pirbright Institute: Next‑Generation Animal Disease Research Facilities

This project was supported by Lexica prior to its acquisition by WSP.

The Pirbright Institute is a global leader in animal disease research, with a mission to protect economies and save lives by controlling and eliminating viral diseases in animals, including those that can spread to humans. Until recently, the Institute operated from ageing, post-war buildings that no longer supported the demands of modern science.

With funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Pirbright secured over £250 million to redevelop its Surrey campus. The transformation will deliver more than 25,000m² of specialised research facilities, meet some of the strictest regulatory standards in the field and enable rapid response to UK animal disease outbreaks.

Client

Pirbright Institute

Managing risk, unlocking value

Lexica, member of WSP, has played a strategic role in the redevelopment since 2015, providing comprehensive project and programme management across multiple phases. From business case development to construction and occupancy, our structured approach has helped ensure the campus delivers maximum value.

We applied benefits mapping to align the behaviours of designers, contractors and suppliers with project goals. Gap analysis identified key risks and informed mitigation strategies. Value engineering optimised space and resources without compromising quality, while quantitative risk analysis helped minimise contingency and release capital for future phases. Regular performance reviews enabled early issue resolution and kept the programme on track.

Delivering specialist facilities

We also led the delivery project management of the £80 million Brooksby Building – a highly specialised animal research facility that will significantly enhance Pirbright’s capabilities in zoonotic disease research. The building is designed to support high-containment work and meet rigorous environmental and operational standards.

Our team navigated complex constraints, including live construction alongside an active research campus. We engaged proactively with local authorities, supported the development of a mock-up facility to test new technologies and implemented a multi-workstream programme management approach to ensure coordinated delivery across the site.

Meet our Visioneers

Our involvement has been instrumental in delivering a fit-for-purpose, future-ready campus that supports Pirbright’s mission and global reputation. The redevelopment enables the consolidation of the estate into a cutting-edge research environment, designed to support rapid response to emerging threats.

The Brooksby Building will be central to Pirbright’s expanded research into zoonotic diseases, reinforcing its role as a World Reference Laboratory for high-impact conditions such as foot-and-mouth disease and bluetongue. This project demonstrates our team’s ability to deliver complex, high-specification environments that support scientific excellence and public health.

Mark Halstead Director, Project & Programme Management, Lexica (member of WSP)

Mark Halstead Director, Project & Programme Management, Lexica (member of WSP)

Services offered

Benefits mapping: Used to align the behaviours of designers, contractors and suppliers with project goals
Gap analysis: Identified key risks in this complex programme and prioritised mitigation strategies
Value engineering: Optimised space and resources without compromising quality or functionality
Quantitative Risk Analysis: Applied to schedule and cost to minimise contingency requirements and release capital for future phases
Regular performance reviews: Enabled early issue identification and resolution to keep the programme on track