Gov HQ in the works despite virus delays

Thursday 11 June 2020

The Government is still pressing ahead with its new HQ, with £1million being funnelled into its major office space overhaul strategy.

The funds were recently released by the Minister for Treasury and Resources to begin looking for a partner to deliver the Office Modernisation Strategy – part of which involved plans for a centralised Government ‘hub’.

Whilst the Chief Minister’s vision for 2020 as a “year of action” has been somewhat scuppered by the outbreak of covid-19 and its accompanying lockdown, the Government say that the pandemic hasn’t put any major projects on ice.

The release of the next Government Plan - covering the years 2021 to 2023 - has, however, been delayed by two months. 

Pictured: Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré.

As a result, Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré is asking States Members to approve a variation to the rules which govern the running of the States Assembly by allowing the next Government Plan to be lodged later than originally hoped.

Despite these delays, and whilst work to establish the impact of the pandemic on the Government’s full portfolio of capital projects is still ongoing, progress is still being made on plans for a new 11,000sqm Government HQ to house 1,600 employees, freeing up scores of current public sector offices for affordable housing in the process.

Asked by Express, a spokesperson for the Government elaborated on what the £1m is being used for.

“£1 million was allocated as part of the Government Plan for progressing the Office Strategy during 2020. The money is to fund the identification of a development partner capable of delivering a building in accordance with the requirements of the Strategic Outline Case (approved in October 2019) and present a business case recommending the awarding of a contract," they stated.

Pictured: The major strategy hopes to consolidate office space.

“The partner appointed will also provide legal, commercial property, procurement, technical advisor and quantity surveying services, and will prepare and evaluate necessary documentation.”

Speaking more specifically about progress on the Government HQ front, they added: “The procurement process to source the Development Partner for the Government’s new headquarters was launched earlier this year,” adding that it’s hoped the preferred partner will be announced in the autumn.

In terms of the knock-on effect for other major capital projects approved in the 2020-23 Government Plan, the spokesperson had this to say: “A number have been delayed because of the pandemic and work is ongoing to assess that impact, however no projects will be delayed by a later lodging period of the next plan.”