The Government Property Agency (GPA) has released new office design guidance, as part of its mission to create a smaller, better and greener office estate.
The GPA manages more than 53 per cent of the government office estate.
The updated Government Workplace Design Guide outlines improved design standards for government offices. It introduces the the Core Design Requirements (CDR) and aims to provide a consistent approach for delivering inclusive, accessible, modern, sustainable and digitally-enabled work spaces.
The guide is designed to provide clarity and consistency for those involved in the commissioning, planning, designing and managing of new or significantly redeveloped government workplaces.
The original design guide was published in August 2020 and it has now been updated due to the changes to the way people work in offices.
The guide supports the Government Functional Standard for Property (GovS 004) and is accompanied by a suite of technical handbooks covering architecture, fire safety, Net Zero and sustainability, biodiversity and nature recovery, mechanical, electrical and plumbing as well as historic buildings.
It also includes standards for digital connectivity and interoperability to empower civil servants to collaborate and work productively across various locations.
Mark Bourgeois, CEO at the GPA, said: “The updated Government Workplace Design Guide provides a key framework for delivering work spaces that are inclusive, sustainable and digitally connected – setting the standard for the government office estate now and for the future. It provides the clarity and consistency needed to create modern and high-quality offices which boost the performance, collaboration and wellbeing of civil servants across the country.
“This new guide signals the GPA’s commitment to supporting the government’s priorities, most notably the Plan for Change and transition to Net Zero, with sustainability embedded throughout our new guidance. We now look forward to working alongside our departmental and private sector partners to ensure the updated guide is adopted across government, as we aim to raise the standard of offices in the UK.”
