Controls such as the Cabinet Office needing to approve all new leases have helped the government save more than £100 million on its commercial property portfolio.
Francis Maude, the minister for the Cabinet Office, said the amount that has been reined in during the 2011-2012 financial year tops the £90 million saved during 2010-2011.
As of September 1st 2011, the government's property estate measured 16,411,676 sq m collectively, not including schools, NHS buildings and other wider public sector premises.
Around 40 per cent of its commercial property holdings are offices, while 17.4 per cent is located in London.
However, with 552 vacant properties, the government plans to sell or sub-let these to boost income.
"We expect even greater savings by the end of this parliament, as we make better use of space and put an end to the days where the government estate was bigger, inefficient and went without scrutiny," Mr Maude commented.
The government was previously planning to relocate some of its central civil servants to outer
London offices in boroughs such as Croydon, but has decided to hold back from making the move for the time being.
Posted by David Hudek
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