FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
In the past six months, the government has saved over £17 million in rental payments by closing three expensive central London offices and relocating staff to existing spaces.
10 Victoria Street has now officially closed its doors, marking the third central London office to close in the last six months as part of the Government’s ‘Plan for London’ (PfL) efficiency drive, which is being delivered by the Government Property Agency (GPA), and will achieve £8.8 million in annual savings for the taxpayer. It follows The Rookery and Clive House in September, with the three buildings combined securing approximately £17.5 million in annual savings.
Eleven buildings in central London are set to close under PfL by 2030, with over 14,000 civil servants relocated as part of the programme, delivering total annual savings of £94 million.
The move supports the wider Places for Growth strategy, strengthening the government’s presence across the country by moving roles from the capital to regional offices, and bringing the government closer to the communities it serves. Under these plans, 50 per cent of Senior Civil Service roles will be based outside of London by 2030.
Over 23,000 roles have already been relocated under Places for Growth and around 34 per cent of Senior Civil Servants are now based outside the capital.
Around 1,000 staff from various departments have been relocated from 10 Victoria Street into high-quality, available spaces within the existing government estate, such as 100 Parliament Street and 26 Whitehall.
Under the plans, Caxton House, home to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), will be the next significant closure, achieving an additional £19 million in annual savings. As part of this, DWP staff will transfer to Sanctuary Buildings – ensuring that every square foot of the government estate is working for the taxpayer.
Cabinet Office Minister, Anna Turley, said: “This latest closure is another milestone in our commitment to securing further savings for the taxpayer. By reducing the number of buildings we rent in central London, we’ve already saved over £17 million in the past six months – money that can now be better spent delivering on the public’s priorities.
“At the same time, we’re taking more decision-making out of Whitehall and moving it closer to communities all across the UK, making it easier for talented people, wherever they are, to join the Civil Service and help us rebuild Britain.
“The closures are part of the Government’s Plan for London, delivered by the Government Property Agency (GPA), which moves staff out of high-cost rentals and into high-quality, available spaces within the existing government estate, to ensure it is utilised more efficiently.”
