Relocation Documents

This is the place to look if you want to find reference documents and papers that have been influential in defining and delivering the relocation programme.

This ranges from identifying the initial scope (for example the Lyons Report) to definitive guidance and instructions on methods of delivery (Chief Secretary (CST) or Dear Accounting Officer (DAO) letters).

If you are looking for a source related to relocation, but can't see it here, e-mail us.

Lyons Independent Review of Public Sector Relocation

Sir Michael Lyons, Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, conducted an independent study into the scope for relocating a substantial number of public sector activities from London and the South East of England to other parts of the United Kingdom. The report Well Placed to Deliver? - Shaping the Pattern of Government Service was published on 15 March 2004.

Lyons Review research

Experian Business Strategies research 'The Impact of Relocation - Learning from previous relocations' and 'A regional economic perspective on public sector relocations' contributed to the Lyons Review. In addition, King Sturge, submitted 'Executive Summary of Comparative Assessment of Locations' and 'Final Report of Comparative Assessment of Locations'.

Responses to review consultation

A full list of those who contributed to the consultation is contained in Sir Michael Lyons final report. The following addressed some of the broader issues:

Lyons Public Sector Assets Management Study

In Spending Review 2004, Sir Michael Lyons was asked to conduct a study into the management of public sector assets and how the current asset management regime might be improved to secure further efficiency savings and achieve the Government's objective of £30 billion of assets sales by 2010. Sir Michael published his findings and recommendations in 'Towards Better Management of Public Sector Assets - A Report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer' (PDF 204KB) on 2 December 2004.

Guidance on Location Choice

"Guidance on Location Choice" has been developed following consultation and has been agreed by Ministers.

The guidance is a joint publication between the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce and sets out how Government departments should integrate the Government's wider economic and regional policy considerations into their decisions when choosing locations for work being transferred out of London and the South East.

In particular, departments are asked to consider the impact on local authority areas in the top 20 per cent of the Indices of Deprivation - those areas which have, potentially, the most to gain from Government business relocation. This list does not preclude consideration of, and ultimate relocation to other areas, but other locations should provide significant, demonstrable advantages in terms of the local wider impact and the overall business case.

Note: Departments can locate anywhere in the UK outside the Greater South East, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Indices of Deprivation for the UK

The National Assembly for Wales did a useful comparison Deprivation Domains and Indicators in the United Kingdom 2004 between the four countries and what was actually measured.

Travel times to London

Typical road and rail journey times when travelling to central London.

Related links

Relocation Documents

Lyons Independent Review of Public Sector Relocation

Lyons Public Sector Assets Management Study

Guidance on Location Choice