The future headquarters of the Department, which has close to 2,000 staff, will be at 2 Marsham Street a short distance from its current Westminster base. The move is intended to reduce the overall amount spent on property by the government.
Defra’s London workforce currently operates out of three premises at Nobel House, Ergon House and 9 Millbank. Leases on both Ergon House and 9 Millbank are due to end in June, and both buildings are to be redeveloped as residential properties.
Savings
Staff are also being relocated from Nobel House – which is home to much of the Department’s waste and recycling team – as the government seeks to streamline its property portfolio across London.
The government has set a target to reduce property costs by as much as £100 million by 2030
Commenting on the move, Defra permanent secretary Clare Moriarty, said: “The expiry of leases at two of our properties has made it possible to take this opportunity to bring Defra group people in London together into one purpose-built office.
“We are now busy drawing up a detailed relocation schedule with the current occupants of 2 Marsham Street with my aim for Defra group to complete the move by early 2018.”
Efforts to reduce property expenditure has seen the government’s central London estate shrink from 181 properties in 2010 to 54. By 2025 this figure is expected to fall to some 20 buildings.
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