A HUGE North Yorkshire laboratory that conducts research for the Government has submitted expansion plans.

Planning officers at Ryedale District Council have received a proposal for Central Science Laboratory (CSL), off the A64 at Sand Hutton, for a new modular 340 sq metre laboratory block.

CSL is an executive agency of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which specialises in the sciences underpinning agriculture for sustainable crop production, environmental management and conservation and in food safety and quality.

Arising from the research it carries out are a wide range of analytical, diagnostic and consultancy services designed to support the international land-based and food industries.

There are already 40,000 sq metres of offices and laboratories at the site, which is in open countryside and shielded from view by woodland. The laboratories were built for crop development and protection.

The plans are for the construction of a two-storey building containing laboratories, offices, storage and distribution space on the first floor, external waste compound, generator and 16.6m high flue.

"It's a fairly small development compared to the rest of the site," said a spokesman. "We were looking at up-grading the existing facility and found that the most cost-effective was to construct a new building, that why we've gone for this particular option. It's just an expansion of what we've got already.

"This flexible facility will provide a range of analytical services to a number of customers."

Plans have been recommended for approval and will be considered by councillors on Tuesday.

Updated: 10:39 Saturday, May 01, 2004