Reviews of cluster and individual locations in the South East, East Midlands, West Midlands and North East

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) today invited staff and unions to comment on proposals for reorganising its office accommodation in ‘cluster’ and ‘individual’ locations within the South East, East Midlands, West Midlands and North East. Clusters are, broadly speaking, groups of towns or cities outside the main urban centres, but within 25 kilometres of each other. Individual locations have up to two HMRC offices but are generally over 25 kilometres from the next HMRC presence. Each cluster and individual location review will be carried out as a distinct and separate exercise.

The reorganisation of office accommodation arises in part from the integration of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, which has led to HMRC having more space than it needs.

All Enquiry Centres will remain open in their current localities as will other sites serving a specific local purpose.

There are 28 separate consultations covering the four regions where initial proposals recommend reducing estate to accommodate staff in 31 office buildings.

Initial planning suggests that by 2011, the number of HMRC jobs in these cluster and individual locations is likely to reduce from 7,670 to around 5,180 as a result of efficiency programmes.

In addition and as a result of the revised staffing projections to 2011, published in February 2008, HMRC has identified a need to withdraw from two office buildings in the Birmingham urban centre, accommodating around 45 staff in each. All other buildings in this urban centre are being retained.

An eight week consultation period begins today with a range of HMRC stakeholders including staff, trade unions, local authorities and MPs. HMRC businesses are engaging with representatives of large customer groups, covering both commercial and community interests.