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
SR25: 'Canary Wharf costs half as much as Westminster' – departments outline estate plans
13 Jun Property & Estates
SR25: 'Canary Wharf costs half as much as Westminster' – departments outline estate plans
The government needs a workforce plan to inform civil service relocation
21 May Property & Estates
The government needs a workforce plan to inform civil service relocation
MoD breaks ground on site for 1,100 staff in Blackpool
20 May Property & Estates
MoD breaks ground on site for 1,100 staff in Blackpool
Levelling up: all the civil service relocations out of London announced so far
03 Feb 2022 Property & Estates
Levelling up: all the civil service relocations out of London announced so far
Close to 10,000 new relocations were announced in yesterday's levelling up white paper, bringing the running total to more than 15,000
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire Exclusive
03 Feb 2022 Property & Estates
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire
Second perm sec Angela MacDonald reflects on HMRC's role in the Covid response and EU transition, and what its massive office rationalisation programme means for levelling up
MoJ to move 2,000 jobs to seven regional offices
02 Feb 2022 Property & Estates
MoJ to move 2,000 jobs to seven regional offices
"Justice collaboration centres" to open as part of Places for Growth programme
MoD eyes exit from ‘appalling’ service-family housing deal
01 Feb 2022 Property & Estates
MoD eyes exit from ‘appalling’ service-family housing deal
Minister sets out plans to use leaseholder-rights legislation to buy back tens of thousands of homes from private-equity firm
WFH FAQs: Is working from home banned for civil servants, and where are we now on hybrid working?
28 Jan 2022 Property & Estates
WFH FAQs: Is working from home banned for civil servants, and where are we now on hybrid working?
Officials have been told to “lead the way” in a return to office working, but what does the announcement actually mean?
Thousands of regional jobs saved in HMRC U-turn
26 Jan 2022 Property & Estates
Thousands of regional jobs saved in HMRC U-turn
HMRC had planned to move almost 3,000 jobs from Portsmouth and East Kilbride
Read the January 2022 issue of Civil Service World
24 Jan 2022 Property & Estates
Read the January 2022 issue of Civil Service World
Featuring exclusive interviews with HMRC's second perm sec and Cop26's chief operating officer
Treasury’s Darlington office could move to new site within three years
18 Jan 2022 Property & Estates
Treasury’s Darlington office could move to new site within three years
There are expected to be 1,500 new civil service staff in Darlington by 2025
'Jury out’ on whether Geidt should have quit over PM's flat refurb probe, says union chief
07 Jan 2022 Property & Estates
'Jury out’ on whether Geidt should have quit over PM's flat refurb probe, says union chief
Latest Downing Street flat refurb revelations prompt renewed calls for ethics adviser to have freedom to launch investigations without PM’s go-ahead
DWP to move more than 3,000 staff to central Blackpool
11 Nov 2021 Property & Estates
DWP to move more than 3,000 staff to central Blackpool
Purpose-built office by main railway station will replace sites in north of town
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
05 Nov 2021 Property & Estates
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
But department’s annual report estimates fraud in Covid support schemes topped £6bn in 2020-21
Government to focus on moving out of 'high cost' offices in new estate plan
03 Nov 2021 Property & Estates
Government to focus on moving out of 'high cost' offices in new estate plan
Minister reveals renewed focus for property following Spending Review
New head office for defence infrastructure body 'sets new standard of sustainability'
21 Oct 2021 Property & Estates
New head office for defence infrastructure body 'sets new standard of sustainability'
Site at DMS Whittington will be "exemplar of a modern and inclusive working environment"
HMRC begins move into Birmingham hub
20 Oct 2021 Property & Estates
HMRC begins move into Birmingham hub
DWP and VOA staff will also occupy the 3 Arena Central building
FCDO to sell off slice of Tokyo embassy compound
18 Oct 2021 Property & Estates
FCDO to sell off slice of Tokyo embassy compound
Proceeds will fund upgrade of remaining buildings and work on wider diplomatic estate
Vaccines minister pressured to accelerate officials’ return to offices
07 Sep 2021 Property & Estates
Vaccines minister pressured to accelerate officials’ return to offices
Nadim Zahawi says departments must 'lead by example' on return to office, despite support for hybrid working
Treasury eyes 50:50 split between office and remote working
02 Sep 2021 Property & Estates
Treasury eyes 50:50 split between office and remote working
Job advertisements specify “two-to-three days a week” in the office for London and Darlington roles
Cabinet Office unveils ‘Government School of Property’ plans
26 Aug 2021 Property & Estates
Cabinet Office unveils ‘Government School of Property’ plans
Chief property officer says school will be one-stop location for 5,000-strong property profession
Work completed on two remote-work hubs in Northern Ireland
19 Aug 2021 Property & Estates
Work completed on two remote-work hubs in Northern Ireland
Ballykelly and Downpatrick offices are first of 10 hubs to support flexible working for civil servants
Labour warns moving civil service jobs won’t level up the nation
12 Aug 2021 Property & Estates
Labour warns moving civil service jobs won’t level up the nation
Shadow cabinet member Lisa Nandy says ministers need to invest in boosting local opportunities
1,000 more jobs across seven departments to move to Leeds hub
05 Aug 2021 Property & Estates
1,000 more jobs across seven departments to move to Leeds hub
Hybrid working means HMRC's Wellington Place building has space for extra staff
A quarter of DfE officials return to office as Sunak urges young people to ditch home working
03 Aug 2021 Property & Estates
A quarter of DfE officials return to office as Sunak urges young people to ditch home working
"Quite frankly, they are all excited to come back," education minister says
DWP ‘pledges no mass return to the office’
15 Jul 2021 Property & Estates
DWP ‘pledges no mass return to the office’
“Unlocking is an opportunity for more colleagues to gradually return,” says department
Government Property Agency expansion boosts headcount
14 Jul 2021 Property & Estates
Government Property Agency expansion boosts headcount
Annual report flags savings of £506m but says Covid prompted pause to smarter working programme