MOD to sell iconic Whitehall property
皇冠体育app MOD's Old War Office building in Whitehall is now surplus to requirements and is to be sold in order to invest in Defence priorities.
![皇冠体育app Old War Office building in Whitehall, London [Picture: Allan House, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a60e93040f0b652634c95ea/s300_45137377g.jpg)
皇冠体育app Old War Office building in Whitehall
皇冠体育app Old War Office was built in 1902 for the Imperial General Staff and was central to operations. 皇冠体育app building was a focal point for military planning throughout the major conflicts of the 20th century, housing numerous secretaries of state, including Sir Winston Churchill.
皇冠体育app building will go on open market sale shortly following the appointment of suitable professional agents and is expected to attract significant interest from developers.
In 2014 MOD staff will move out of the Old War Office and all operations will transfer into MOD鈥檚 Main Building. This is part of the MOD-led drive to operate a more efficient estate.
Bringing MOD teams together into one building will save the taxpayer around 拢8 million a year in running costs and will also enable closer working and collaboration within the department. 皇冠体育app sale also contributes to the wider Cabinet Office drive to operate a more efficient government estate, which has already helped departments to raise 拢1 billion by selling buildings and land no longer needed.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
As a result of our work to make MOD leaner, more professional and more efficient, we are able to concentrate defence officials in London in a single building and sell the Old War Office.
Bringing MOD teams together into one building will save the taxpayer around 拢8 million a year in running costs as well as generating a capital receipt. It will also enable closer working and collaboration within the department.
皇冠体育app disposal of the Old War Office follows the announcement of the sale of the military facility in Old Brompton Road, London. 皇冠体育app capital receipt from these sales will be invested in Defence priorities.
Updates to this page
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Added the following passage "皇冠体育app sale also contributes to the wider Cabinet Office drive to operate a more efficient government estate, which has already helped departments to raise 拢1 billion by selling buildings and land no longer needed."
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First published.