The Government Property Agency (GPA) has achieved Practical Completion at its new Government Hub at 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon.
The building will accommodate over 5,000 civil servants and enable the Home Office to migrate from three current locations in Croydon to the building in the summer 2024.
Following the completion of Cat A construction, funded by Pensions Insurance Corporation (PIC) and developed by Stanhope in partnership with Schroders and Lendlease, the GPA will now take on the lease and work in partnership with Wates Smartspace, to fit out and complete the building to the Government Workplace Design Standards.
Clive Anderson, Director of Capital Projects at the GPA said: “This marks the end of three years of hard work by the integrated delivery team, led by the GPA in partnership with PIC, Stanhope, Schroders, Lendlease and their excellent supply chain, who have designed and built this extraordinary building to meet the Home Office needs. I am delighted with the CAT A base build completion earlier than planned ready for the GPA to complete for our Home Office customers in late summer 2024.”
Home Office Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft commented: “This is an exciting step towards the completion of the new Home Office Croydon Hub. The site will play a major role in our work to keep the country safe, secure and prosperous. It will provide a modern space that is sustainable and which offers a collaborative and enjoyable working environment.
“I would like to thank all those who are working hard to make this innovative building a reality. I very much look forward to its completion next year.”
2 Ruskin Square represents the second purchase by PIC of a GPA hub within the past 12 months following the purchase at Manchester, First Street, in 2022.
James Agar, Head of Long Income at Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), added: “Government let commercial property assets are an important, on-going area of specific focus for PIC, and we are pleased to make this long-term commitment to supporting the greening and modernisation of the UK Government’s estate. 2 Ruskin Square is a best-in-class development and joins the First Street Hub in Manchester as part of PIC’s expanding partnership with the GPA.”
The building, rated BREEAM Outstanding, is highly sustainable with fully decarbonised power and all electricity procured from renewable sources. Once complete, it will offer an effective mix of flexible and hybrid work spaces to support neuro-diversity, collaboration and wellbeing, along with fully inclusive refreshment hubs, home zones and meeting rooms.
The new Hub in Croydon will be the area’s second, creating a government campus with excellent sustainable transportation links. It will form part of the nine-acre Ruskin Square scheme and is located adjacent to East Croydon train station. It sits alongside One Ruskin Square, HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) regional centre which opened in 2017.
The Government Hubs Programme has so far supported regeneration and economic development in 17 locations throughout the UK including; Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Peterborough and Bristol to support around 60,000 civil servants and in so doing create a smaller, better and greener public estate.
