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NERC announces plans for CEH

7 December 2005

NERC's Council has today released its plans for the future of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), one of its four research centres. The Council has recognised for some time that the current structure of CEH is unsustainable.

Under the new proposals, outlined in NERC Council's statement of intent (see note 5 below), four sites - Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Wallingford - would become the focus of CEH's work. Four other sites - at Banchory, Dorset, Monks Wood and Oxford - would close. The CEH administrative headquarters at Swindon would move to Wallingford.

The proposed reshaping of CEH would enable it to continue to deliver high quality research and environmental advice. It would improve science delivery and retain a geographical spread across England, Scotland and Wales, needed for CEH to carry out its research effectively.

The restructuring of the science teams would regrettably mean some redundancies, not only at the sites being closed but also at the retained sites where some of the science would be reduced or discontinued. Some people would have the opportunity to relocate and around 400 of the staff would be retained.

NERC Council's review was informed by the CEH business plan, which focussed on the need for a more sustainable future, and a thorough review of CEH science by NERC's Science & Innovation Strategy Board.

The Council is now consulting specifically on their intentions with staff across the whole of NERC, the trade unions, scientists, stakeholders and customers, and the general public, to obtain as much information as possible. Any new information will be carefully reviewed when the Council further considers the changes at a meeting in March 2006.

Further information

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Notes

1. During the transition period CEH would do all that it can to maintain business as usual, and deliver external contracts on schedule and to the highest standards.

2. The six science programmes currently managed by CEH are: Biodiversity; Biogeochemistry; Climate Change; Environmental Informatics; Sustainable Economies; Water.

3. NERC currently employs around 600 staff at its CEH sites.

4. The public consultation concluded on 15 February 2006.

Press release: 57/05

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