New HMRC East Kilbride site revealed

HMRC has told staff working in its East Kilbride site that the department has decided its long-term location in East Kilbride will be Abercrombie House; close to Hairmyres railway station and local amenities. The building is currently occupied by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), that has announced it expects to move out in 2025.

Although the building first opened in 1981, PCS has been assured that Abercrombie House can provide the type of high-quality working environment members expect to meet our long-term needs.   

Car parking secured

One of the biggest issues for the local branch and the group is that HMRC Regional Centres do not come with on-site parking, as part of their design blueprint; which has a potential impact on those members of staff with mobility problems etc.

However, given the exceptional geographical challenges of the town, the collective efforts of the branch and the group have been heard receptively by HMRC; and consequently, free car parking spaces will be made available in the new location. 

With hybrid working, HMRC is confident that the provision will be sufficient to meet demand. PCS is in consultation with local management to obtain current usage data for parking in the current Queensway House site, and this will be monitored closely; especially following the proposed introduction of increased office attendance, and the potential that this may lead to an increase in demand for on-site parking. 

HMRC has said that “…we will review our requirements in line with key factors, such as of course the demand from staff, but also with the confines we have on site, eg the space available.”

PCS will continue to monitor this issue, and it will intervene if it becomes clear that this provision of car parking will be inadequate.

Public Transport concerns

One of the principles of the Regional Centre programme is to co-locate offices with transport hubs and encourage the use of public transport as the primary mode of commuting.

Locals will be aware that whilst Abercrombie House is a stone’s throw away from a local railway station (‘Hairmyres’), the service provision to East Kilbride is less than ideal. A single track is used for part of the line and the most recent figures show that only 11% of services were on time.

PCS will now turn our campaigning efforts to working with all relevant parties – including local politicians – to ensure that the transport links are improved to meet the needs of members.

Campaigning works

In 2022, PCS conference paid tribute to all who have supported the ‘Stay in EK’ campaign since 2015. MPs, MSPs and Councillors from all parties, union officials and businesses joined together to advocate the retention of jobs in East Kilbride.

Over 2,000 East Kilbride jobs were on the line but another 2,000 people could have been indirectly affected due to the impact of HMRC quitting East Kilbride.

The local newspaper – East Kilbride News – embraced the campaign, using the Stay in EK logo in its masthead and running regular features. 

The union has long-since provided an alternative vision to the closure of tax offices, and the announcement to retain East Kilbride is in-line with that vision. In the most uncertain of times, now more than ever we need civil servants to deal with the ongoing and increased demand on our public services.

Conference also agreed that we must ensure world-class facilities for our members and, especially, proper equality-proofing of the new or renovated premises.

PCS understands that there are currently no plans to base any other government departments in the new site, but if that changes, the union will be consulted.

We will also continue to press HMRC to create more variety of roles – including more senior ones - in East Kilbride, offering more opportunities for our members to progress their careers. We have already seen major Directorates such as Customer Compliance alter their plans, and to now make East Kilbride a long-term location.