The Government body aims to re-locate staff and facilities to the research complex from Porton in Wiltshire and Colindale in north London as well as its headquarters functions from central London.

It will submit a planning application in the next few weeks to refurbish several current buildings and construct new ones on the Pinnacles Estate site. The plans include new and converted laboratories and a visitor centre.

The site and assets were purchased for £25m. It is anticipated that the first staff will move to Harlow in 2021 with the site fully operational by 2024. At that time up to 2,750 people could be based at the Science Hub with scope for further expansion to 3,250.

Richard Gleave, PHE Deputy Chief Executive said: “Our move to Harlow will create a world-class science campus for public health, of international significance and real benefits for the local community.

“The decision to buy the site now has been taken after careful consideration of the advantages and represents best value to the British taxpayer.

“This includes reduced running costs and the ability to carry out a number of further specialist additional surveys which will save us considerable time and money and provide invaluable information for the more detailed design work planned for later in the year.”