§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will update the information concerning vacant government offices in Central London given in their reply of 14th May 1992.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)There is currently 2.32 million square feet of vacant office accommodation on the Common User Estate in Central London. Of this, 414,000 sq ft is held vacant for refurbishment, 836,000 sq ft is allocated and awaiting occupation, and 444,000 sq ft of space will be lost as a result of lease expiries over the next five years. The total increase since May 1992 arises because of relocations from Central London, reorganisation of Departments and the decanting of staff for major repair works.
In dealing with the vacant space, Property Holdings has substantially increased allocations for occupations by departments and agencies. Property Holdings also continues to initiate schemes to rationalise and refurbish vacant space, and to reorder Departmental occupations to take advantage of other impending lease expiries and surrender and sale opportunities.