Government launches Property Agency

The Government Property Agency (GPA) has been launched as an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office.

The Agency is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Government Estate and generate benefits of between £1.4bn and £2.4bn over the next ten years.

In an unprecedented move, GPA’s initial portfolio of 80 properties will grow to over 1,000 as it takes on increasing responsibility for managing the general purpose central government estate.

The GPA says it will partner with government departments to “find innovative property solutions, and provide expertise to enable them to deliver wider business change more efficiently”.

The GPA leads the Government Hubs programme with HMRC having announced 12 Hubs to date across the UK, amounting to almost 261,000 sq m. Nottingham has been named as an HMRC Hub location.

GPA has operated in shadow form for over a year, testing systems and ways of working, to ensure readiness for go-live and a sustainable organisation. During this period it has delivered estates services to Cabinet Office and BEIS as its foundation clients, worked in partnership with HMRC to deliver Hubs and secured £38m income from vacant space.

Oliver Dowden, Minister for Implementation said: “The creation of the Government Property Agency will transform the way property is managed in the general purpose central government estate, generating savings of over £1 billion over the next ten years. The Hubs programme is a catalyst for growth in city centres across the UK, helping to boost jobs and economic growth, as well as demonstrating the government’s commitment to strengthening the Union and enhancing regional career paths.”

Liz Peace, chair GPA said: “This is an exciting time for government property and demonstrates the focus on improving the commercial capability in estates management. The GPA team will bring the concept of a cross government corporate real estate organisation into reality. As well as the significant benefits to the Exchequer that will come from the GPA, its impact on departmental transformation and quality of workspace will be key to delivering a truly modern and excellent Civil Service.”