This week the Museum gained planning consent, subject to s106, to build a new collections and research centre at Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.

Earlier it had been hoped the project would start early this year but now the Museum has announced it is aiming for an early 2025 start to the project.

The centre’s footprint will be the equivalent of three football pitches, totalling 25,000m2.

The building is expected to be finished in 2027. By 2031, the centre will be operational, equipped with cutting-edge laboratories, workspace for Museum scientists and purpose-built storage for 28 million specimens – around a third of the Museum’s collection.

The Museum is committed to achieving a net-zero carbon building in both construction and operation.