MORE than 200 new jobs will be created as part of a plan to expand research laboratory facilities at the site of East Lothian’s second biggest employer.

Charles River Laboratories have been given the go-ahead to expand the research and development buildings at their Elphinstone operation.

The move will, the company says, create 202 fully qualified jobs equating to a 17 per cent rise in its local workforce.

And it says it will increase capacity for all the work it does, including the safety and efficacy testing of vaccines, including Covid-19 vaccines.

Geoff Burns, general manager, Charles River Edinburgh, said that plans were in place to open the new expansion later this year.

He said: “We are very much looking forward to opening our brand-new facilities in autumn 2022.

“We are committed to attracting the best and the brightest in the industry, and we believe this latest investment, along with our minimum salary level increase, will help set us apart and cement Charles River Edinburgh as the best place to develop your career in life sciences.

“Moreover, paying the real living wage shows our employees that we value their hard work and commitment. This is an exciting time to join Charles River Edinburgh.”

East Lothian Courier: Charles River Edinburgh general manager Geoff Burns with the company's director of human resources Linda Logan. Image courtesy of Charles River

Charles River Edinburgh general manager Geoff Burns with the company's director of human resources Linda Logan. Image courtesy of Charles River

Applying for planning permission for the additional workspace, the firm, which has been operating on the site for more than 30 years, said that life sciences, in which it works, were hugely important to Scotland’s economy.

It pointed out that more than 37,000 people worked in the sector across some 700 organisations.

And it said that currently 1,140 staff worked at the Elphinstone site, with two-thirds of employees living in the county as well.

It added: “The proposed development will allow for growth of another 202 full-time qualified posts, an increase of 17 per cent.”

Approving the plans, which will see 3,639m2 of additional workspace added, including labs, offices and staff facilities, at the Elphinstone research centre, council planners said that there had been no public objections.

An additional 50 car parking spaces will also be created and retrospective planning permission for a footpath which had been added to the site was also approved.