Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings
16 May Property & Estates

Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings

Forget break-out spaces and collaboration zones, many civil service offices of the past were ugly, impractical and unpleasant to work in. Jim Dunton explores the history of some of government’s most notorious buildings – and pays homage to some of the pioneering ones too
by Jim Dunton
London-based civil service headcount to be cut by 12,000
14 May Property & Estates
London-based civil service headcount to be cut by 12,000
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
14 May Property & Estates
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
‘Lessons being learned’ over GPA spending-control failings, MPs told
01 May Property & Estates
‘Lessons being learned’ over GPA spending-control failings, MPs told
Facilities staff at three departments to strike over ‘insulting’ pay offers
16 Oct 2024 Property & Estates
Facilities staff at three departments to strike over ‘insulting’ pay offers
PCS urges end to outsourcing as it announces strikes at Cabinet Office, DSIT and DBT
Aberdeen confirmed as base for GB Energy
25 Sep 2024 Property & Estates
Aberdeen confirmed as base for GB Energy
GB Energy "could only really ever be based in one place in Scotland", says Starmer
Departments scramble to deal with collapse of construction giant ISG
24 Sep 2024 Property & Estates
Departments scramble to deal with collapse of construction giant ISG
ISG had £1bn-plus pipeline of work for MoJ and other projects for DfE and DWP
Sunak ignored police chiefs' warning to act on prisons crisis before election
10 Sep 2024 Property & Estates
Sunak ignored police chiefs' warning to act on prisons crisis before election
Police bosses warned Sunak that “simply waiting for a new government to be formed after the election" to tackle the crisis would be "an unacceptable delay in mitigation”
Blackpool civil service office building gets go-ahead
05 Sep 2024 Property & Estates
Blackpool civil service office building gets go-ahead
More than 400 officials are expected to work in the six-storey building in the Talbot Gateway development
'No decision made' on GB Energy headquarters
04 Sep 2024 Property & Estates
'No decision made' on GB Energy headquarters
DESNZ denies reports Aberdeen has been selected as the home of Great British Energy
GPA reveals plans for Manchester digital campus as consultation opens
28 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
GPA reveals plans for Manchester digital campus as consultation opens
Two office blocks will form part of the campus, which will include retail units and cycle storage
Second government hub gets 'top-tier workplace' ranking
22 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
Second government hub gets 'top-tier workplace' ranking
Quay House in Peterborough is dubbed one of the best workplaces in the world as it gets Leesman+ status
FCDO delays move from East Kilbride to Glasgow
21 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
FCDO delays move from East Kilbride to Glasgow
HMRC reaffirms "long-term commitment" to Scottish city as its staff are told they will stay put in Queensway House
PCS threatens more strikes over proposed jobcentre security guard cuts
19 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
PCS threatens more strikes over proposed jobcentre security guard cuts
Reductions to security staffing being considered at 17 jobcentres across UK
ONS officials to escalate office-attendance dispute
13 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
ONS officials to escalate office-attendance dispute
ONS civil servants to begin work-to-rule action from 27 August
Darlington hub gets planning permission
08 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
Darlington hub gets planning permission
Government building, set for completion in 2027, will provide offices for more than 1,400 civil servants
Treasury claims ‘significant progress’ on Darlington hub
05 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
Treasury claims ‘significant progress’ on Darlington hub
Almost all new staff were recruited to the hub rather than relocating – and 70% of those are new to government
Rise in civil service's ethnic minority representation as headcount continues to climb
01 Aug 2024 Property & Estates
Rise in civil service's ethnic minority representation as headcount continues to climb
Here's what CSW found in the latest Cabinet Office civil service statistics release
York civil service hub gets green light
23 Jul 2024 Property & Estates
York civil service hub gets green light
Planning permission granted for 1 Cinder Street office at York Central development where 2,600 civil servants will work
Planning decision on York civil service hub imminent
19 Jul 2024 Property & Estates
Planning decision on York civil service hub imminent
Planning meeting for new offices where 2,600 civil servants are expected to work will take place next week
'You have my confidence, my support and my respect,' Starmer tells civil servants
09 Jul 2024 Property & Estates
'You have my confidence, my support and my respect,' Starmer tells civil servants
"I know just how hard you work," PM says in first video message setting the tone for official-minister relationships
'No more gimmicks': DLUHC reverting to old name
09 Jul 2024 Property & Estates
'No more gimmicks': DLUHC reverting to old name
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner confirms departmental name-change
DWP protest: Department 'sleepwalking into major incident' union warns
05 Jul 2024 Property & Estates
DWP protest: Department 'sleepwalking into major incident' union warns
PCS urges Labour to bring security jobs back in-house as hundreds of G4S security guards walk out
Labour: We want to see civil servants in the office
02 Jul 2024 Property & Estates
Labour: We want to see civil servants in the office
Asked if Labour would keep 60% rule, Jonathan Ashworth says it is "sensible" for civil servants to be in the office
MPs voice fears over UKHSA campus as price spirals to £3.2bn
30 May 2024 Property & Estates
MPs voice fears over UKHSA campus as price spirals to £3.2bn
Agency and DHSC "unable to explain" who is responsible for six-fold increase in project cost over nine years
Cat Little apologises for error over contract termination
23 May 2024 Property & Estates
Cat Little apologises for error over contract termination
The cabinet office permanent secretary said formal termination was "through a negotiated settlement agreement with the supplier" rather than "non-performance" as she previously stated
Deal secures land for new civil service hub in Manchester
17 May 2024 Property & Estates
Deal secures land for new civil service hub in Manchester
Multi-department digital campus will host 7,000 jobs on site of former shopping centre
Treasury's Darlington hub to be completed by 2027
01 May 2024 Property & Estates
Treasury's Darlington hub to be completed by 2027
Construction on Darlington Economic Campus HQ will begin this year as GPA signs deal with Kier