26
Accepted
OGP's Better Buildings Programme lacks sufficient leverage to drive change in departments
Conclusion
The Cabinet Office has attempted to improve oversight of departments’ management of property, and to increase the guidance available to assist them. It did this through the Better Buildings Programme, launched in 2022, which aimed to share best practice and to establish a consistent backlog calculation methodology across departments. However, the NAO report noted that the OGP lacked sufficient leverage to encourage change in departments.53
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's finding and states that a review of the Government Property Agency (GPA) is currently underway to address concerns about leverage and duplication, with a target implementation date of Winter 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Winter 2025 6.2 As part of a broader cross-government review of arm’s length bodies, a review of the Government Property Agency (GPA) is currently underway, and the Cabinet Office will write to the Committee with the outcome of that and how it addresses the concerns of duplication raised by the Committee. For clarity this review is not in relation to oversight of all government property, as GPA only has responsibility for a percentage of the government's office portfolio. The office estate accounts for circa 1.7% of the government estates and currently GPA is responsible for circa 53% of that office estate.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
29th Report - Condition of Government property
11 Jun 2025
HC 641
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
1.1 yr
Report published
11 Jun 2025