Working with Combined and Local Authorities to Regenerate the UK
Updated 24 August 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/redefining-the-government-office-estate/working-with-combined-and-local-authorities-to-regenerate-the-uk
1. Working with Combined and Local Authorities to Regenerate the UK
We are rationalising office portfolios in towns and cities across the UK, bringing in roles relocated from London as part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.
We want to collaborate with Combined and Local Authorities to enhance opportunities for:
- shared office space
- supporting public sector communities
- regenerating key locations
- increasing footfall on the high streets
- supporting local skills initiatives
- green travel
- district heating schemes
We want to work with Combined and Local Authorities to contribute to place making and economic development.
1.1 Working better together
We want to partner with Combined and Local Authorities to create a smaller, better and greener government office estate. This is achieved through:
- Central government inward investment to support bringing new office-based jobs to the regions.
- The location of central government offices to help deliver economic, regeneration and sustainability plans.
- Opportunities for joint office development including with local businesses and universities.
- Opportunities to reduce costs by sharing office and meeting space with government departments.
- Opportunities to increase social value through our investment in local areas.
- Opportunities to make meeting and conference facilities available for shared public sector use.
- Strategic property services to support decisions and improvements.
We are taking a place planning approach to optimise the Government’s office estate, working with Combined and Local Authorities to embed our contribution to place-making:
- Delivering regional economic growth
- Creating great places to work
- Challenging the standards and norms
- Ensuring we’re all improving
- Identifying efficiencies and innovations
We want to hear from Combined and Local Authorities to see if we have our approach right and if there is more we can do.
The Government Property Agency (GPA) is the public sector property holding company responsible for delivering the Government’s property agenda across its office and warehouse portfolios. We represent the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government - and manage a large and fast growing estate.
We are delivering the property elements of the Government’s Levelling Up, Net Zero, and the Civil Service Reform initiatives. This includes a significant programme of commercial office developments and investment in our existing estate in all parts of the UK.
Our vision is to deliver a transformed, shared, sustainable and value for money office estate, supporting civil servants to work productively in every nation and region of the UK.