Senior Officials Discussed Relocating UK Government Out of Historic Downing Street

Senior figures in Sir Keir Starmer's administration held discussions about moving out of 10 Downing Street due to concerns that the building is not suitable as a modern workplace. Ministers and officials from past governments have often complained that the layout resembles a maze, which can prevent staff from working together properly. Former communications director James Lyons stated that relocation talks took place while he was in office, and two other senior figures verified that plans were considered to relocate workers into an open-plan office inside another government department. A specific area inside the nearby Foreign Office building was put forward during these early talks, though sources noted the planning never progressed past an initial stage and it remains unclear if Sir Keir himself took part in those conversations. Sources also clarified that the prime minister would have kept living in the residence even if the office relocation had happened. Constructed over 300 years ago from three combined houses containing over 100 rooms, the historic address was originally granted to Robert Walpole by King George III in 1732. Lord Walker, a supermarket executive and former adviser, recently called the building outdated and suggested converting it into a museum or housing. James Lyons supported these remarks publicly, describing the workplace on social media as a gloomy space plagued by mice and safety curtains, while noting staff felt jealous of other departments. The primary motivation behind the relocation talks was enabling staff to sit together in an open-plan environment to boost teamwork.

Context

Historic government headquarters often struggle to accommodate the digital infrastructure and collaborative workflows demanded by modern public administration. While these venerable structures hold immense symbolic value for a nation's political identity, their age and rigid architectural layouts frequently create logistical challenges for contemporary political teams.