Central London review update

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is today (Thursday 8th February 2007) publishing the results of a review of its occupation of buildings within central London. This is the first in a nationwide series of reviews, which will include consultation, designed to bring the department’s office network into line with future business plans.

Six major sites will house the majority of the department’s operations in central London, whilst six offices are to be vacated within a year. Decisions on another three will be finalised this summer.

Mike Hanson, HMRC director general responsible for the office review programme, said: “This is our first Regional Review to reach ‘decision point’. The early proposals on central London have in general withstood what is proving to be a very tough evaluation process. The Review team’s assumptions were tested against nearly 2,000 individual contributions as well as the views of more than 30 business unit planning teams, Trades Unions, MPs and external customers, and our professional estates and IT partners.

“And if we wanted proof that decisions on individual buildings are not ‘a done deal’ when proposals are announced, the decision to retain Custom House and its Annexe provides it in large measure. It was new information, gained through the feasibility and consultation processes that brought the change of mind on buildings.”

HMRC was created in April 2005 following the merger of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs & Excise, providing the opportunity to create a modern, effective revenue collection and enforcement department.

Six major sites will house the majority of HMRC’s operations in central London. Initial proposals to retain 100 Parliament Street, Euston Tower, Bush House and 22 Kingsway are confirmed. Custom House and its Annexe are to be retained given the complexity of replicating their functions and existing facilities elsewhere at this time. Specialist sites, including all four central London Enquiry Centres will be kept, as will HMRC’s presence at the Eurostar Terminal, due to move to Kings Cross St Pancras in November this year.

Buildings to be vacated by April 2008 are Belgrave Road, Haymarket House, New Kings Beam House, Thomas Paine House, Towergate and garage, with staff likely to move before then. Work to increase the capacity of ‘importing’ buildings – starting with Euston Tower - has already begun.

Feasibility work is continuing on three buildings: Somerset House, Dorset House and Charles House.