The Jodrell Bank telescope funding cut has put one of Britain’s most important science sites on course for possible closure by April 2028, triggering sharp warnings from astronomers who say the move could weaken UK research for years to come. The observatory in Cheshire, home to the country’s largest telescope for nearly seven decades, has lost its funding, and the BBC understands all scientific observations are now expected to stop on 1 April 2028 unless other money is found.
Scientists connected to the site say the decision goes far beyond one observatory. Jodrell Bank and its telescope network have helped drive the study of distant galaxies and have trained generations of astronomers. Prof Brian Cox, of the University of Manchester, called the cuts “hasty and ill-considered,” while describing the damage to the UK science base as already significant. He said he was surprised UKRI was pressing ahead instead of working with the Burnham government on a fix.
UK Research and Innovation, the funding body behind the decision, said it had to direct money toward projects with the strongest long-term impact. It said the observatory’s annual budget of £2.8 million had to be cut because planned research costs for physics and the running of its laboratories had climbed. The agency, which manages an annual budget of just under £10 billion, said the choice was part of wider reductions across astronomy, nuclear and particle physics over the next four years.
Jonathan Reynolds, the new Secretary of State in the expanded business department now responsible for science, said the UK’s research strength is central to building a better future. He said he was committed to working with UKRI so Britain can both maintain world-leading research and invest in the next generation of scientific facilities and infrastructure. That exchange captures the bigger fight now unfolding: whether the country should protect a historic research asset or concentrate limited funds elsewhere.
Jodrell Bank has deep roots in British science. Established in 1945, it helped pioneer radio astronomy and the study of galaxies beyond our own. During the Cold War, it also played a role in monitoring Soviet missiles at a time of high nuclear tension. Its contribution to global science earned it Unesco World Heritage status in 2019, a distinction that underscored its value well beyond campus boundaries.
