Caxton House closure plans are 'extremely concerning'
PCS has raised concerns about the planned closure of Caxton House, the DWP headquarters in London.
Last week Civil Service World reported that the Government Property Agency (GPA) is expecting the DWP to vacate the Whitehall site in 2026.
It is expected that these DWP workers will move to Sanctuary Buildings, the Department for Education headquarters.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said she was “disappointed” by the announcement as there are “more than 2,700 staff working there in a variety of roles”.
The planned closure is part of the Boris Johnson government plan to streamline the Whitehall estate. As laid out in the 2022-2030 Government Property Strategy, there is a push to reduce the Whitehall campus to 16 buildings.
As the union has “not seen details of the new office provision in Sanctuary Buildings”, Fran said PCS is “extremely concerned about staff being squeezed into inadequate office space for the sake of delivering a Government Property Strategy, launched by the previous government”.
The GPA has since claimed that this closure “is in line with our ambition to provide high-quality workspaces in modern, efficient buildings — creating a greener, more cost-effective public estate that benefits both civil servants and taxpayers”.
However, Fran has stressed that civil service office closures – and the resulting reduction of workspace – “seem to be at odds with the government’s drive to force members back into the workplace”.
“PCS will not stand by and watch the working conditions for our members deteriorate,” she said, adding that the union looks forward to a consultation with the DWP which ensures that the new office “is fit for purpose and delivers for our members as well as the DWP.”