Antrim laboratory gets go-ahead for £15m expansion

A £15m (€16.6m) extension to a laboratory in Co Antrim has been given the go-ahead.

Plans for the work at Randox Laboratories Limited’s Crumlin base have been approved.

A manufacturing laboratory, office and storage are among the projects included. The application was processed in just over five months.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said: “The Planning Service should get the credit it deserves when it helps progress quickly, key economic projects which can generate jobs, especially during a time of severe international recession.”

Randox is a leading edge local bio-technology company with a 600-strong workforce exporting to over 130 countries worldwide.

The Planning Service’s director of strategic planning Tom Clarke said: “It is important proposals representing inward investment, particularly in the current economic downturn are processed as quickly as possible.

“This decision and our handling of other application shows just how committed we are to doing this.”