Rothamsted Research Centre is set to benefit from a major £25 million cash boost, with hopes to create more jobs and develop companies in the area.

The investment from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will develop the current campus into a Centre for Research and Enterprise.

BBSRC will invest up to £8.2 million towards the delivery of a shared resources hub at Rothamsted that will enable interaction between industrial and academic scientists.

£2.7 million will also be spent on delivering a new Rothamsted communications and conference centre.

Support will also be provided by the Lawes Agricultural Trust and other sources to provide a total project investment of up to £25 million.

Stephen James, associate director of operations at Rothamsted Research said: "I am delighted by this significant commitment from the government to invest, not only in UK science but also into our local community in Harpenden and St Albans.

"Rothamsted's two new buildings will bring a major new asset to the locality, in particular providing state-of-the-art conferencing and meeting facilities for local business, enterprise and the wider community.

"Rothamsted has been an integral part of the local community for nearly two centuries and this continued investment will enhance this strong and proud tradition.

"Rothamsted is also a major part of the new St Albans Green Triangle initiative, which pulls together a specialist green businesses as a cluster underpinned by local centres of environmental excellence.

"This will help support not only the local economy, but also has wider significance as we develop global technologies and play our part in delivering the UK growth strategy".

The funding forms part of a wider £30 million investment to drive economic growth from UK agri-science, announced by the Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts during the launch of the Government’s Agri-Technology Strategy.