PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
NHS Property Services (27 November 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2017 to Question 108736, if he will place, after redaction of any commercially confidential information, the full value-for-money options appraisal to relocate the main premises of NHS Property Services in London in the Library.

Asked by:
Karin Smyth (Labour)

There was a full options appraisal undertaken by NHS Property Services for its Board and the main factors were also considered by the Department. The full appraisal was heavily reliant on commercially sensitive information, for example the financial and commercial lease terms of potential landlords, therefore it is inappropriate to provide it.

However, the key components of the appraisal can be summarised as follows:

NHS Property Services occupied six buildings across central London and was required to relocate from two buildings to free up space for other public sector occupiers, additionally leases were due to expire on others.

Moves were therefore necessary and it was recognised that there could be operational efficiencies derived from accommodating all of NHS Property Services’ London staff in a single location. There were however no options available within DH, NHS and the wider public estate that were able to accommodate all NHS Property Services staff so the Company looked at other options.

A variety of other options were assessed. Rents in the West End, Victoria and Mid Town were considerably higher than the chosen location, whilst rents in areas such as King’s Cross, London Bridge and the South Bank were comparable to the chosen option in the City. In the end, the current Gresham Street option in the City was selected.

Answered by:
Philip Dunne (Conservative)
5 December 2017