Government updates office design standards with new workplace guidance

The Government Property Agency (GPA) has published a revised version of its Government Workplace Design Guide, introducing a new office design framework intended to standardise the layout of government offices while reflecting changes in the way civil servants work. Launched on 2 July, the updated guidance introduces a Core Design Requirements (CDR) framework, which the GPA says will provide a consistent approach to creating inclusive, accessible, sustainable and digitally enabled workplaces across the government estate.

The guide is intended for those involved in commissioning, planning, designing and managing new or substantially refurbished government offices. It aims to establish common standards while allowing enough flexibility to respond to the specific operational needs of individual departments and buildings.

The revised guidance replaces the original Government Workplace Design Guide published in 2020. According to the GPA, the update was prompted by changes in workplace practices over the past five years. Government departments and industry bodies were consulted during the review, alongside benchmarking against industry guidance and cost analysis.

Mark Bourgeois, chief executive of the Government Property Agency, said the new guide provides “a key framework for delivering workspaces that are inclusive, sustainable and digitally connected. The updated Government Workplace Design Guide 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.”

Alongside the design guide, the GPA has published a suite of technical handbooks covering architecture, fire safety, Net Zero and sustainability, biodiversity and nature recovery, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and the treatment of historic buildings.

The agency says the new Core Design Requirements framework is intended to reduce redesign costs by providing clear standards while allowing projects to adapt to local circumstances. The guidance also places greater emphasis on digital connectivity and interoperability to support collaboration between civil servants working across different locations.

The guide supports the Government Functional Standard for Property (GovS 004), which sets requirements for the management of the government estate. Established in 2018, the Government Property Agency manages more than 53 percent of the government’s office estate and acts as landlord for a number of Civil Service departments and agencies. It is overseeing a wider workplace transformation programme, including the Government Hubs Programme, which aims to consolidate office accommodation across the UK.