HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) today (Wednesday 13 December) invited staff and unions to comment on proposals for significantly reducing its use of office accommodation in outer London and the South East. Local stakeholders, including MPs, are being contacted separately.
The proposal envisages accommodating staff in 14 of the larger HMRC buildings spread through outer London, rather than the current 26. Similarly in the South East, it would mean occupying 7 buildings (in Reading, Southampton and Portsmouth) as opposed to the current 14. All Enquiry Centres will remain open in their current localities and other sites serving a specific local purpose, such as storage facilities at Erith in Outer London, will be kept.
The move to reduce offices arises in part from the integration of former Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise accommodation, which has led to HMRC having more space than it needs. Additionally by 2010, the number of HMRC jobs in outer London and the South East is expected to reduce from the current 7,560 to 5,540, as a result of Government relocation and efficiency programmes.
