§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual cost to his Department of the lease of Archway tower; who is the head lessee; who is the owner of the freehold; and what future use he plans for the building. [27135]
§ Mr. FreemanAs these are purely operational matters, I have asked the chief executive of Property Advisers to the Civil Estate to write directly to the hon. Member.
Letter from N. E. Borrett to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 29 April 1996:
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your Question about Archway Tower.PACE has responsibility for Archway Tower which is leased to the Secretary of State for the Environment and needs extensive modernisation and refurbishment.It was formerly occupied by the Benefits Agency as a public caller office and for other purposes but was operationally unsuitable and these functions transferred to another property in March 1995. The annual rent payable is £913,400.Letting Agents are appointed to dispose of the lease by whatever means are possible but the building is considerably over-rented and there is little serious interest. Efforts are continuing to find a Government Department to occupy. Constructed in the 1970's, the building now requires complete refurbishment prior to re-occupation but in view of the depressed rental levels in the area, the capital expenditure is unlikely to be justified in the absence of a firm demand.The freehold is owned by London Underground Limited and the head lessees are K P & B P Shah and A M Patel.