The Government PropertyWorkplace AgencyDesign (GPA).Guide Asis partone of a suite of guidance supportingdocuments theand Governmentstandards Functionalsetting Standardout forthe Propertyaspirations (GovSfor 004),our itworkspaces; setswhat clearthey expectationslook aroundlike quality, performance, and the experience we want our people to havehave. whenThe workingguidance inand standards are mandatory for central government offices.organisations with property responsibilities. Other public sector organisations might find it useful for assessing themselves against the same guidelines.

ItThe introducesWorkplace theGuide Coreis Designintended Requirementfor (CDR)use framework;by aanyone foundationalinvolved setin ofcommissioning, criteriaplanning, thatdesigning providesand amanaging sharednew benchmark.or Themajor CDRredevelopments frameworkof ensuresgovernment aoffice consistentestate. qualityIt acrossis theto officebe estate,used whilstin providingconjunction with the much-neededRoyal flexibilityInstitute toof adaptBritish Architect’s Plan of Work 2020 and respondGovernment Property Agency (GPA) or departmental process plans at each project stage to operationalcommunicate needs.aspirations, design approach and standards.

The Workplace Guide raisessupports the barGovernment forFunctional designStandard qualityfor acrossProperty, theGovs government004: officeProperty.

Annexes

The estate,Architectural settingAnnex outsupports the standardsDesign andGuide performanceby expectationsaddressing thatbuilding defineenvelope whatand outstandingform, governmentvertical workplacestransportation, lookfinishes like.and fit-out, acoustics and structure.

The guidanceNet isZero toand beSustainability treatedAnnex asis a baselinesupporting document for innovationthe —guide, pushingand furtherits inrequirements sustainablelargely materials,aligns digitalwith infrastructurethe UK Green Building Council Net Zero Buildings Framework to identify the steps and inclusiveprocesses designthat —new ratherand thanrefurbishment simplyprojects ashould thresholdundertake to meet.

Updateddeliver ina 2026,Net Zero building. The annex takes a standardised approach whereby the fulltargets Guideand isguidelines availablemust onbe adopted by the GPA’swhole websiteportfolio of buildings within the government office estate and not only a single building.