Government Property Agency
The Government Property Agency (GPA) is an executive agency, sponsored by the Cabinet Office. It delivers property and workplace solutions across government by managing central government property.
It was set up in shadow form in January 2017, overseen by the Government Property Unit (GPU). It was originally expected to be formally launched in November 2017, however, its business plan was not approved by the Treasury, and so it will actually be launched on 1 April 2018.
It will introduce a portfolio-led approach to managing central government general purpose property as a strategic asset and will drive benefits through more efficient and effective use of the estate. It aims to generate more than £1bn of benefits over ten years.
In a written statement on 28 March 2018, Oliver Dowden, The Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office said:
"The Agency will be a new Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office from the 1st April 2018 and will provide the centralised ownership, control and delivery infrastructure needed to unlock benefits across organisational boundaries. It further positions Government to deliver workforce change and wider business transformation, delivering efficiencies and releasing land and property for productive use, including building new homes.
"The assets in scope to transfer to the Agency at this stage are general purpose assets (offices, warehouse and depots), plus non-specialist science assets. Specialist assets such as courts, prisons and specialist science assets will remain on departments’ balance sheets and the model also excludes devolved administrations, local governments, schools, NHS clinical estates, HCA regeneration assets, MOD estate and overseas estate.
"The Agency will initially deliver the Government Hubs programme with HM Revenue & Customs and manage non-specialist properties for Cabinet Office and Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy - before expanding its scope to the non-specialist properties of other government departments in subsequent years."
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Acronyms.
- Composition of UK construction industry 2013.
- Construction 2025.
- Construction industry institutes and associations.
- Construction industry organisation structure.
- Government construction strategy.
- Government departments responsibility for construction.
- Office of Government Property.
- The state of UK construction August 2012.
- UK.
- UK construction industry.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.