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Government plans to save a further £3.6bn from property sales over next 20 years

The Government sold Admiralty Arch in 2012 - Getty Images
The Government sold Admiralty Arch in 2012 - Getty Images

The Government is planning to save around £3.6bn in the next two decades by dramatically scaling back its property estate as part of a sweeping cost-cutting drive.

The Cabinet Office will today outline plans to move thousands of public sector jobs, including senior roles, out of London by 2030, reducing Whitehall buildings from around 65 to 20 over the same period. Around 20 so-called Government "hubs" will be set up in the regions by the end of this parliament in 2022.

In total, the strategy commits to reducing the number of government-owned office buildings from 800 to under 200, with an estimated saving of £3.6bn over 20 years.

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The update to the Government’s estate strategy revealed that around £2bn has already been saved from selling more than 1,000 buildings in the last four years, and operating costs have been reduced by £300m.

The Government also reiterated its plans to release land for 25,000 homes by 2020.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said: “By releasing more surplus land to build homes, and delivering public services that are closer and more accessible to the communities which they serve, I am confident we will provide benefits and opportunities that work for everyone.”

The Government has been seeking to better use the buildings it owns across the country, reducing the empty space it has and moving civil servants to cheaper premises.

In recent years it has sold iconic London buildings including Admiralty Arch and the Old War Office.