Warwick's MP has said "serious questions" need answering over the sale of the Covid-19 'megalab' in Leamington Spa.

The Rosalind Franklin Laboratory has been put up for sale less than a year after Warwick District Council gave it permission to keep operating.

The site first opened in July 2021 - six months later than intended - to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

MP for Warwick and Leamington, Matt Western, has been publicly critical of the lab, and says this latest chapter in its story needs further investigation.

“We were told from the outset that this lab would bring 2,000 jobs to our town and that post pandemic, it would be used as a general medical diagnostic testing centre," he said.

"However, we now see it has been listed on Rightmove!

"You couldn’t make it up. 

"It has cost at least £455 million of taxpayers’ money, and it seems that the Government are abandoning its plan of only 18 months ago.

"There are some serious questions that need answering and I will do all I can to demand the answers we deserve.”

Originally given permission to run until February 2023, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency was granted full planning permission by the council for the former Axiom building to permanently become a medical research facility last December.

The Harrison Way 'mega lab' is being marketing by property agent Avison Young - although the price is only available by request.

The listing on the Avison Young website says the facility has nine lab lines with associated logistics, office and amenity area within self-contained secure facility.

The full listing can be seen here.