As the government presses ahead with its property reform and disposal programme it has been announced that the Department for Education (DfE) is to relocate from its present home in Great Smith Street to Whitehall by 2017, saving the taxpayer almost £19 million per year.
In order to facilitate this move, the DfE has appointed BAM Construction as the main contractor for the refurbishment of the Old Admiralty Building (pictured), in Horseguards Parade.
The Grade II listed building will be extensively restored and enhanced by the developer in association with the DfE and the Government Property Unit (GPU), serving the dual purpose of providing a new headquarters for the DfE whilst also ensuring the preservation of one of London’s key landmarks.
Construction director at BAM’s London office, Andy Mason, believes that the firm is more than up for the challenges relating to this sensitive restoration.
He says; “This is the kind of challenge that BAM has shown time and time again it can deliver successfully, and we are thrilled to be part of the team.
“We will be working carefully with Historic England on many of the decisions that will need to be taken in this historic and complex building.”
At present, the Old Admiralty Building houses the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has, in the past, been used by famous figures including former Prime Minister Winston Churchill and James Bond author Ian Fleming.
It is therefore imperative that BAM’s renovation is both sensitive and in keeping with the building’s impressive lineage, especially as it forms the backdrop for prestigious military events such as Trooping the Colour.
As a result, it has already been decided that certain aspects of the interior, such as the attic rooms used by engineers during the development of the British Navy’s Dreadnought fleet, will be retained and preserved as historical points of interest.
These have been set out in a detailed planning application submitted to Westminster City Council, which is expected to gain approval in time for the refurbishment works due to start in November of this year.
So far, the DfE has managed to reduce its estate costs to £45 million per year since 2010, when the annual cost amounted to £63 million. The further £19 million per year reduction facilitated by this move will help to meet government targets for the Whitehall estate, which through property reforms has generated a cumulative £1.4 billion for taxpayers in the past five years.
Government Property Unit head Bruce Mann pledges to continue to save taxpayers’ money through property reform in central London.
He says; “This is an excellent example of how we can move out of expensive property we no longer need, to make sure taxpayers get the best deal.
“Over the last five years the Government’s property reforms have raised £1.4 billion for taxpayers and in the years ahead we will go further, and faster.”
The Government Property Unit was established in 2010 with a brief to oversee the government’s land and property estate. As of last year the GPU had reduced the running costs of the estate by £625 million per year through a combination of rationalisation and disposals.
