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Public sector estates

A sustainable and effective public sector estate is central to the Government’s aim of delivering more accessible and joined-up public services. Central government owns land and property worth around £179 billion, representing 43 per cent of the total public sector estate. The four departments with the largest estate footprints are the Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and HM Revenue and Customs, which together occupy over 60 per cent of the central government estate.

This central estate – totalling 7.7 million m² – costs about £2.57 billion per year to run. The Government has pledged to reduce the operational and maintenance costs of estates, raise capital for house building through the sale of surplus land or vacant spaces, and improve the effective use of spaces. However, there are still important questions that need to be addressed around some of the key priorities of government. These include the core principle of a “fit-for-purpose” estate, the way in which the estate is financed and funded, and the maintenance of estates in terms of capital works and facilities management contracts.

A primary care estate fit for the future – Full report
Primary care services are integral to delivering high-quality and personalised services for patients. There needs to be further investment, better streamlining of existing funding and a new approach to funding digital initiatives in primary care.
  • Research
Maximising the use of developer contributions to fund the NHS estate
Aahsan Rahman, Department Head of Town Planning, NHS Property Services explains how Section 106 planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy can help support the delivery of much needed health infrastructure.
  • Blog
Planning for patients: The role of Section 106 planning contributions media coverage
On Monday 13 January Reform launched its report 'Planning for patients: The role of Section 106 planning contributions'.
  • Press
Professor Robert Harris: Not Building the Dream
Professor Robert Harris, CEO & Managing Partner of Lakeside Healthcare Group explains how Section 106 funding could provide NHS estates with vital cash and why healthcare providers to be at the table when discussions take place.
  • Blog
Planning for patients: The role of Section 106 planning contributions – Full report
Local health service providers and Councils are not taking full advantage of funds from section 106 agreements, meaning that they are missing out on millions of pounds that could go towards improving and delivering vital services for patients.
  • Research
Fact Sheet: The Education Estate
£7.1 billion has been allocated to support the educational estate over five years - but both funding and accountability is inadequate
  • Research
Fact Sheet: DWP Estates
The Department for Work and Pensions has the largest estate in government, with running costs down by 65% since 2010-11
  • Research
Fact Sheet: The primary care estate
The Long Term Plan sets out ambitious plans for primary care, yet 80% of GP practices are not fit for the future
  • Research
Fact Sheet: The NHS Estate
The NHS estate covers 55.6 million m2 of land, costs almost £9 billion to run, and has a maintenance backlog of £6 billion
  • Research
Making public sector estates fit for purpose
The Government spends around £2.6 billion a year on running public sector estates, yet many buildings are not fit for purpose
  • Blog

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