### Millions Spent on Welsh Government Offices That Sit Mostly Idle as Remote Working Persists
A series of government office buildings across Wales, costing millions each year to run, are sitting largely unoccupied as staff continue to favour hybrid and remote working. The Welsh Government, which has invested £24.5 million annually in maintaining twenty different premises throughout the country, is now facing questions about the necessity of such a vast estate in light of persistently low office attendance figures.
Current policy asks civil servants to spend at least two days a week—or 40% of their working time—in the office. Yet, recent figures for March reveal that only 16% of government staff were present on any given day. At one of the largest hubs, located in Merthyr Tydfil, daily footfall was as low as 9%. Numbers during the first months of the year hovered around a similar mark, averaging just 15% in January and February.
The Welsh Government’s estate consists of fifteen “core offices”, including major hubs in Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Llandudno Junction, and Merthyr Tydfil, in addition to five other regional sites. Official figures indicate particularly low attendance in several of these buildings: Cathays Park in Cardiff saw 19% occupancy, with other key locations like Caernarfon, Aberystwyth, Llandrindod Wells, and Swansea reporting similarly sparse numbers.
Despite the pressing questions about value for money, ministers appear keen to adapt to modern working patterns. Speaking in response to an enquiry about the underutilised Newtown office in Powys, Minister Lesley Griffiths stated that a full review of the government’s property portfolio was underway. She acknowledged the possibility of closing offices that miss attendance targets, making it clear that continual absence could inevitably lead to closures.
“We’re encouraging people to return to the workplace, but we have to be realistic,” Griffiths explained. “If the uptake doesn’t improve, it becomes difficult to justify keeping sites open that are not being used.”
The discussion comes on the back of the government’s latest State of the Estate report, published in May, which recognises “continued under-occupation” of offices as hybrid and home working remain entrenched post-pandemic. Officials are trying to counter the trend by opening up office space to other public sector bodies and encouraging shared use of facilities. Both the Welsh language commissioner and the Food Standards Agency, for instance, have taken up residence in some of these locations since 2020.
Yet, some assets have already been relinquished. The Grosvenor Road office in Wrexham closed its doors in January, with staff moved to smaller and more suitable premises. Meanwhile, unoccupied properties such as the block at Picton Terrace in Carmarthen are now up for sale, amid uncertainty over whether demand for in-person working will ever fully rebound.
Staff representative groups, including the trade union Prospect, have expressed support for hybrid working, arguing that flexibility promotes productivity and ensures the public sector remains an attractive employer. “Our members continue to deliver for the people of Wales,” said Steve Thomas, deputy general secretary, who also stressed the need for ongoing dialogue between government and unions over any policy adaptions.
However, not everyone agrees. The Welsh Conservatives argue that the government has taken a lax approach to public resources, demanding a stronger stance on office attendance. “If we win the next election, we’ll reverse unnecessary remote working policies and get people back into offices,” declared Darren Millar, leader of the opposition in the Senedd.
As the debate intensifies, the government faces a difficult balancing act: reducing costs and optimising spaces, while accommodating the changing preferences of a modern workforce. For the time being, the future of Wales’s government office estate remains uncertain, with ministers yet to decide how many buildings will ultimately be deemed surplus to requirements.