Single Scottish Estate (SSE) Programme: reflections and progress report

3. Location-Based Reviews (LBRs)

Tackling strategic asset planning across Scotland and working beyond traditional organisational boundaries means we had to develop a methodology all bodies could contribute to, especially where visibility of accurate property data is challenging. An LBR is a workstream within the Programme that assesses an area for opportunities to optimise the properties there. The review considers the public sector estate from a strategic level, prioritising efficiency and the opportunity for collaboration of public sector organisations. Whilst our initial starting point has been Scottish Ministers estate, the wider public sector including health and Local Authorities is also an important consideration for opportunities to collaborate and support the Verity House Agreement.

The needs of each occupier are drawn out as the process develops to find an acceptable path for all parties under the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) and wider public sector to work together, including with co-locations and other efficiency measures of SSE. We encourage you to come to the discussion aware of local, place-based needs, workforce planning, strategic business delivery needs and the condition and position of your properties on the pathway to Net-Zero. Collectively we identify opportunities to consolidate, co-locate and support the delivery of excellent services to the public. This work has included:

• Perth - A location with several buildings reaching lease expiry or end of economic life, including potential to downsize requirements, dispose of surplus property and a possible co-location with the local authority were all considered as possible solutions. A Perth Office Project (POP) Board was established to oversee this work.
• Aberdeen - Driven by local operational challenges. While most LBRs focus on the office estate, consideration has been given to operational property held by the various public bodies and Local Authorities in search of a solution.
• Edinburgh - The biggest single location in terms of both quantum of the estate and the value of property, much of which is owned rather than leased. Edinburgh has many public sector properties and stakeholders and one quick action in exiting from Silvan House – see further details below - was completed early in the Programme. Our next focus has been on engagement with wider Edinburgh stakeholders to understand their needs and improve the level and quality of data held to extend across the wider public sector estate. This work is ongoing.
• Glasgow Office Project (GOP) - Also a location with a varied and complex leased public sector estate where some early actions were taken, we are working with a range of bodies and their 4,000+ colleagues to develop cost-effective solutions in Glasgow. We are currently progressing property options for Phase 2 of this project.
• Inverness – We recently kicked off the Inverness review, which is currently focussed on space planning following engagement with local stakeholders and data gathering.

Through these reviews, we have already identified opportunities for collaboration and strategic improvements in the way we use public estate. Our engagement with stakeholders across the public sector is ongoing, and we are actively working to explore how we can best align our efforts to maximise these efficiency opportunities and support the best possible delivery of public services.