HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is today, 29 February 2008, publishing the outcome of a review of its occupation of buildings within urban centres in North West, Scotland and Wales. This is the latest in a nationwide series of reviews on the future shape of the Department.
HMRC was created in April 2005 following the merger of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs & Excise, providing the opportunity to create a modern, effective revenue collection and enforcement department.
The Regional Review Programme is designed to support HMRC plans to modernise and transform its operations by matching work, offices and accommodation needs throughout the UK. The programme of reviews began in November 2006 and will continue beyond April 2008.
With the exception of Argyle House in Edinburgh, it is not expected that HMRC will vacate any premises until spring 2009, although some work and staff may move ahead of this date.
Mary Hay, HMRC Director responsible for the programme, said:
"These decisions are the latest to emerge from a nationwide series of reviews designed to create the future shape of the Department. In arriving at them, we've engaged widely with Trades Unions, MPs, other elected representatives, local authorities and a range of customer groups as well as with our own employees of course. Their feedback, together with feasibility studies carried out by our professional estates and IT partners, have given us a robust basis for the conclusions being announced today."
In Liverpool, six office buildings will house the Department's future operations in this area, with five office buildings due to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
In the proposals published in May 2007, we planned to withdraw from College Street in St Helens, we will now retain this building following feasibility outcomes.
The buildings being retained are:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards are:
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
In Manchester eight buildings will house the Department's future operations in this area. Ten buildings are being vacated, nine of them from spring 2009 onwards.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
Staff from Royal Exchange in Manchester have already been relocated to Ralli Quays in July last year.
In the proposals published in May 2007, we planned to vacate Stone Cross House in Bolton and Building 302 at Manchester Airport. We will now retain both these offices with some staff relocating from other offices.
The buildings being retained are:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards are:
HMRC no longer has staff located in Royal Exchange, Market Street, Manchester.
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
In Preston/Blackpool eight buildings will house the Department's future operations in the area, whilst six are to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
In the proposals published in May 2007, we planned to withdraw from Chaucer's Walk, Blackburn and retain Castle House in Accrington, Lingmell House in Chorley, Cop Lane in Preston and Dukes House in Southport.
Following feasibility studies, there have been some changes and we will now retain Chaucer's Walk, Blackburn and withdraw from Castle House, Accrington, Lingmell House, Chorley, Cop Lane in Preston and Dukes House, Southport.
The buildings being retained are:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards:
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
Six office buildings will house the Department's future operations in the area, whilst four offices are to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards. Argyle House in Edinburgh is to be vacated by autumn 2008 and staff will relocate to Elgin House and Meldrum House in Edinburgh.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
The buildings being retained are:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards are:
Argyle House in Edinburgh will be vacated by autumn 2008.
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
In Glasgow eight buildings will house the Department's future operations in the area. Six buildings are being vacated from spring 2009 onwards.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
The buildings being retained are:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards are:
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
One building, Ty Glas in Cardiff, will house the Department's future operations in the area, whilst three are to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
The building being retained is:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards:
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
One building, Ty Nant in Swansea, will house the Department's future operations in the area, whilst two are to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards.
Enquiry Centres will remain either at their current location or an alternative service will be provided nearby.
The building being retained is:
Buildings to be vacated from spring 2009 onwards:
Impact Assessments have been published for those buildings we intend to vacate.
