The number of civil servants working in London will reduce by 12,000 in the next five years, the Cabinet Office has announced.
In a much-anticipated announcement this morning, the department said the number of London based civil servants will reduce by 12,000 by 2030 – down from 95,000 full-time equivalent staff to 83,000 by the end of the decade.
The Cabinet Office also said 11 London buildings will close, including DHSC’s Victoria Street headquarters. It also included the closures of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Caxton House base and Ministry of Justice HQ 102 Petty France – both of which have already been announced.
Meanwhile, “thousands” of civil service jobs are to be moved to 13 regions of the UK: Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greater Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Tyneside, Sheffield and York.
However, the number of jobs being located to the regions has not yet been set. A Cabinet Office spokesperson confirmed to CSW that the target to remove 12,000 civil service posts from the capital and the drive to move jobs into the regions are “separate”.
This suggests some of the jobs moving out of London are likely to be removed altogether.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in March that the civil service headcount is expected to drop by around 10,000 as part of efforts to slash administrative costs. Several departments have since announced exit schemes, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office.
Unions call for no compulsory redundancies
Civil service unions have sounded a note of caution following the announcement, urging ministers not to enforce compulsory redundancies or relocations, and to provide clarity on the details of the reforms will be handled.
Fran Heathcote, head of the civil service’s biggest union PCS, said that while “there should be improved access for workers to higher grade roles in the civil service across regions and nations”, for the plans to be successful, ministers must “do the right thing by workers currently based in London”.
“That must include guarantees of no compulsory redundancies, no compulsory relocations and access to more flexible working arrangements to enable them to continue their careers should they wish to do so,” she said.
“Greater flexibility on hybrid working can bring benefits to workers and employers alike, and we hope the government will ditch the rigid, counterproductive policy of the last government.
“PCS will be pressing the government to ensure those guarantees are forthcoming, and for a properly agreed transformation programme on a realistic timescale.”
Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, which represents specialists and professionals in the civil service, said it was "welcome" news that the government is "looking to both increase and empower" officials working outside London.
“We have been here before with similar announcements, if this one is to be different government needs to work closely with unions both on specific relocation plans and on the wider civil service reform agenda," he said.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, which represents managers and senior civil servants, said thousands of civil servants will be facing "uncertainty" around office closures.
"We need to hear quickly from the departments affected how this will be managed, not least how they will be affected by the office closures, relocation of roles out of London and reduction in headcount all happening at the same time," he said.
He welcomed the "integrated approach" being taken, including a pledge to have 50% of Fast Stream roles outside London by 2030 and a new apprenticeship scheme, noting that "there’s a recognition that for this to be a success, civil servants need to be able to build careers for the longer-term across the UK, including in London where there will now be fewer opportunities".
He added: “The rationalisation of the government estate in central London, as well as the hub strategy across the UK, is underpinned by successful hybrid working, which ensures greater efficiencies for the taxpayer and almost £100m in annual savings in London on this announcement alone.”
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said: “To deliver our Plan for Change, we are taking more decision-making out of Whitehall and moving it closer to communities all across the UK.
“By relocating thousands of civil service roles we will not only save taxpayers money, we will make this government one that better reflects the country it serves. We will also be making sure that government jobs support economic growth throughout the country.
“As we radically reform the state, we are going to make it much easier for talented people everywhere to join the civil service and help us rebuild Britain.”
Today's announcement also included plans to have 50% of Fast Stream roles based outside London, as well as some previously announced targets including having 50% of senior civil servants outside the capital by the same date. CSW has taken a detailed look at which of the announcements are new – and which aren't – here.