The UK's property portfolio has undergone a significant shake-up, with fourteen underused public buildings closed last year alone. This bold move has yielded £43.1 million in savings for taxpayers, according to the Government Property Agency's (GPA) Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) for 2025/26.
London bore the brunt of the closures, with four properties shutting down as part of the 'Plan for London' initiative. This push has resulted in £17.5 million of annual savings within the capital, where the number of government buildings now stands at a reduced 28 – down from 79 in 2017. Other key cities like Leeds, Cardiff, and Leicester also saw closures.
Cabinet Office Minister Anna Turley highlighted the benefits of this strategy, stating that by reducing reliance on inefficient London offices, the government is creating a leaner estate that serves the entire nation. She stressed the goal of reshaping the property portfolio to drive economic growth across all regions, making Civil Service careers more accessible nationwide.
The GPA's efforts extended beyond closures, with £25.4 million in commercial savings secured over the past year through re-procurements and contractor negotiations – surpassing their £20 million target. Additionally, £232,000 was saved via Net Zero and Lifecycle Replacement Programmes, including the installation of nearly 1,400 solar panels at five Civil Service offices, projected to annually reduce CO2 emissions by 550 metric tonnes.
While closures were underway, the government invested in new locations, marking key milestones such as the commencement of construction for the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's move into its new London headquarters at 26 Whitehall. The GPA also secured a new headquarters for Great British Energy in Aberdeen and saw the Treasury approve the Outline Business Case for the Manchester Digital Campus, which will house around 8,800 government staff.