- 10 Victoria Street office officially closes its doors, saving
£8.8 million per year for the taxpayer.
- Third London workspace closed in six months as part of the
Government's “Plan for London” efficiency drive, bringing total
savings past £17 million a year.
- Upcoming closure of Caxton House expected to deliver a
further £19 million in annual savings.
Over £17 million in costly rental payments has been saved for the
taxpayer in the past six months, as the government closes
expensive London offices to ensure public money is spent where it
is needed most.
10 Victoria Street, which has now officially closed its doors, is
the third central London office to close in the last six months
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.
Cabinet Office Minister, , 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.
11 buildings in central London will close 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% 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% of our 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.
Notes to editors:
- The Plan for London (PfL) is delivered by the Government
Property Agency (GPA) to create a more efficient Civil Service.
- The Plan for London was launched in May last year and will
involve the closure of no fewer than 11 buildings by 2030,
relocating over 14,000 civil servants, and delivering annual
savings of £94 million.
- The 10 Victoria Street closure follows the September closures
of Clive House and The Rookery, which saved £8.7 million.
- Key upcoming closures under the strategy include Caxton
House, 102 Petty France, and 39 Victoria Street, securing £72
million in annual savings.
