User:WSL1961/sandbox

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Warren Spring Laboratory From its opening in 1959 to its closure in 1994 Warren Spring Laboratory was an industrial and environmental research establishment of the UK government http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:WSL1961/sandbox&action=edit&section=2# 'Location''' WSL was located approximately thirty miles north of London at Stevenage in Hertfordshire near junction 7 of the A1(M). Today nothing remains of the original laboratory. The site is now occupied by a science park

History Big text  Warren Spring Laboratory  was officially opened in 1959 as an industrial research establishment of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Technology (1964-1970), the Department of Industry (1970-1983), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (1983 onwards) before becoming a  Next Steps  Executive Agency in April 1989. The laboratory closed in March 1994 when it was merged with AEA Technology to form NETCEN at Culham in Oxfordshire. The initial purpose of the new laboratory was to undertake work for the UK Government on topics that were not carried out elsewhere and because it did not have a specific or main research function it was named after Warren Spring Lane, a local by way that crossed the site. WSL had a large T shaped water tower which was a highly visible local landmark In addition to normal laboratory facilities WSL had several special buildings in which pilot scale research could be carried out. In the mid 1960 a major extension and several new buildings were built. The number of staff working on this site ranged between 300 and 400. The majority of whom were scientists or engineers supported by administration and workshop personnel. The laboratory was organised in to a number of divisions each covering a specific scientific discipline. In 1959 the initial divisions were: Chemical Engineering and Process Development, Mineral Processing, Air Pollution, Physical and Chemical Services, Human Sciences, and Engineering Services. In subsequent years the laboratory structure was reorganised to reflect the need to study new technologies. The 1985 reorganisation grouped the divisions into those dealing with environmental work (Air Pollution, Oil Pollution and Materials Recovery) and those with process technologies (Control Engineering, Biotechnology and Metals and Minerals). The work was funded directly by the Government departments through a series Requirement Boards or as repayment projects for industrial customers. In addition WSL undertook a number of joint cooperative projects funded jointly by the Government and Industry. During the early 1980s the DTI commissioned a number of studies to review the long term future of WSL including possible privatisation. The most significant of these, the Lindley Review, was presented to government on 16 December 1983. This report rejected the option "to break up WSL or its transfer in whole or in part to other departments or organisations". In November 1984 the WSL Business Plan was published and looked at two options which Lindley believed deserved further investigations, i.e. continuation as a DTI Industrial Research Establishment (IRE) or transition into a free standing private sector organisation akin to a Research Association (RA). To achieve the latter would require more than doubling turnover and reduce Requirement Board support to 25% of turnover; it was concluded that this would still require government support in order to ensure the Lab's survival. Continuation as an IRE would require an increase in turnover. The study involved interviews with 50 major customers of WSL and the authors reported that they were "impressed by the high regard in which organisations held WSL". The general conclusion was that the Lab should remain in the public sector but, reflecting the customer interviews, look for more services for delivery to industry, including "Which-type" surveys. Therefore in April 1989 WSL was launched as the DTI’s first executive agency. For the next few years WSL achieved success as centre of excellence in its many areas of environmental research. Unfortunately the thirty year old buildings on the Stevenage site had serious structural problems and needed replacing. Therefore the Government decided that WSL should be relocated. After an extensive search a new site was found at Welwyn Garden City approximately ten miles south of Stevenage. Construction of the new laboratory was begun in 1992. However before the new buildings were completed it was decided that WSL should merge with AEA Technology at Culham and the Stevenage site closed and the staff relocated to Culham. Warren Spring Laboratory ceased to exist on 30 March1994. Reference 1.	The National Archives Class AY24  Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and successors: Warren Spring Laboratory