The number of government buildings in London has fallen from 79 in 2017 to just 28 after four more offices closed over the past year, according to new figures.
The closures are part of a broader push to create a more efficient and cost-effective government estate, and have helped deliver savings of £43.1 million in the past 12 months alone.
These changes form part of the government’s wider plan to reduce its property footprint, free up funds, and support economic growth across the UK.
A smaller, fairer, more efficient estate
Cabinet Office minister Anna Turley said: "By reducing our reliance on inefficient London offices, we are creating a leaner, fairer government estate that belongs to the whole country.
"We have reshaped our estate to drive economic growth in every region, ensuring a career in the Civil Service is accessible to talent right across the UK, not just within Whitehall."
The latest closures are outlined in the Government Property Agency’s (GPA) Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26, which confirms that four of the 14 buildings shut last year were in the capital.
These closures, together with procurement savings and progress on environmental targets, contributed to £17.5 million in annual savings.
The remaining 10 closures were spread across cities including Leeds, Cardiff, and Leicester.
Energy savings and newer offices
Mark Bourgeois, chief executive of the GPA, said: "We are pleased to publish our Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26, which was a year of further stabilisation at the GPA, where we continued to evolve to ensure better delivery for our clients and the taxpayer, while strengthening our operating model and leadership.
"Throughout the year, we secured notable benefits across our portfolio and for the government – evidenced by the opening of the 26 Whitehall Government Hub, closure of 14 offices and further implementation of property technology – ensuring civil servants have access to more digitally-enabled offices.
"We now look forward to building on these achievements throughout 2026/27, ensuring we continue to support the government’s missions and achieve our aim to create a smaller, better and greener office estate."
Beyond direct property closures, the GPA identified £25.4 million in commercial savings for the year, exceeding its £20 million target.
An additional £232,000 was saved through Net Zero and lifecycle replacement schemes, which included 220 sustainability projects across government sites.
These projects included installing nearly 1,400 solar panels at five Civil Service offices, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 550 metric tonnes annually.
Supporting national growth
The GPA’s role also extends to supporting reforms under the government’s Plan for Change.
In 2025/26, the agency was instrumental in identifying and securing the headquarters for Great British Energy in Aberdeen.
It also successfully delivered a new Government Hub at 26 Whitehall, now home to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
In Darlington, work began on the new Economic Campus, with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Ms Turley.
Progress continues elsewhere, with the Treasury formally approving the Outline Business Case for the Manchester Digital Campus, a new workplace for around 8,800 government employees.
The full Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26 is available on the Government Property Agency’s website.
