Written evidence from Infrastructure UK,
HM Treasury
Q205: Austin Mitchell: Grimsby's Heritage
House is part of the PFI deal between Treasury and Mapeley STEPS…....
But the public services which were brought there are now all leaving
……because the rents are too high…..Grimsby is the
kind of place where it is cheaper than the real world: we could
provide a lovely home for public services, and should do. Is this
a consequence of the prices charged under a PFI deal being too
high for the Departments to pay?
RESPONSE FROM
HMRC
Heritage House was included in the 2001 Strategic
Transfer of the Estate to the Private Sector (STEPS) outsourcing
contract with Mapeley. The contract comprised the transfer of
around 600 freehold and leasehold properties to Mapeley for a
£220 million upfront payment and £150 million in reduced
payments over the contract term. Under the contract, Mapeley provides
serviced accommodation and bears associated property risks in
return for a monthly payment.
The monthly payment, or unitary charge, was fixed
in 2001 and although it is property specific the quantum of charge
was set in the context of the overall pricing of a national contract
covering an extensive range of services. The unitary charge is
uplifted on an annual basis by indexation and has no link to market
terms in the specific location.
HMRC cannot comment on other government departments'
vacation decisions. HMRC's decision to vacate Heritage House was
taken in December 2008 as part of its transformation to ensure
it operates in the most efficient and cost effective way and makes
best use of its estate as a whole.
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