The Government Workplace Design Guide
This Government Workplace Design Guide is one of a suite of guidance documents and standards setting out the aspirations for our workspaces.
- From:
-
Government Property Agency - Published
- 13 October 2020
- Last updated
-
2
1JulyOctober20262024— See all updates
Documents
Government Workplace Design Guide Version 3
https://gpa.gov.uk/insights/guides/government-workplace-design-guide/PDF, 41.2 MB, 102 pages
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The
Sustainability Governmentand WorkplaceNet DesignZero GuideAnnex
PDF, (the1.74 Guide)MB, sets49 clearpages
This designfile standardsmay not be suitable for the Governmentusers Propertyof Agencyassistive (GPA) estatetechnology.
Request toan createaccessible inclusive,format.
If accessible,you modern,use sustainableassistive technology (such as a screen reader) and digitally-enabledneed workplacesa thatversion supportof collaborationthis document in a more accessible format, please email comms@gpa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Historic GovernmentBuilding EstateAnnex
PDF, Strategy.331 KB, 18 pages
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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email comms@gpa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Biodiversity Guideand providesNature Recovery Annex
PDF, 858 KB, 27 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a consistentscreen designreader) approachand thatneed underpinsa allversion projectsof deliveredthis bydocument thein a more accessible format, please email comms@gpa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
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.
Updates
The toHistoric thisBuilding page
PublishedAnnex 13outlines Octoberthe 2020
Lastapproach updatedfor 2handling Julyour 2026
—heritage
Showassets; allrecognising updates
-
Theto Governmentpreserve Workplaceour Designpast, Guidewhilst developing a use for modern day requirements. This has been updateddeveloped towith reflectconsultation thefrom rapidHistoric evolutionEngland.
Feedback
Feedback is thewelcome wayfrom peopleall workinterested inparties, offices.including Thegovernment previoussuppliers annexesor arecontractors, nowprofessional outorganisations, ofor datewider andpublic havesector beenbodies. removed.Comments may be sent by email to designguide@gpa.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
Published 13 October 2020
Last updated 1 October 2024
+ show all updates
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-
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25 March 2024
Biodiversity an Nature Recovery Annex .pdf and accessible HTML version added.
Updated Sustainability and Net Zero Annex .pdf and created an accessible HTML version of this document
-
-
1 June 2022
The Government Workplace Design Guide has been updated to reflect modern ways of working.
-
-
7 December 2021
The page and information has been updated with version 2 of the Government Workplace Design Guide and now includes Part 2: Technical Standards.
-
-
7 December 2021
The page and information has now been updated with version 2 of the Government Workplace Design Guide, Parts 1 and 2.
-
-
26 January 2021
The Historic Building Annex has been added to the page.
-
-
13 October 2020
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-07-02 08:30
The Government Workplace Design Guide has been updated to reflect the rapid evolution is the way people work in offices. The previous annexes are now out of date and have been removed.
2024-10-01 11:49
Removed the architectural annex for review
2024-03-25 09:00
Biodiversity an Nature Recovery Annex.pdf and accessible HTML version added. Updated Sustainability and Net Zero Annex.pdf and created an accessible HTML version of this document
2022-06-01 19:00
The Government Workplace Design Guide has been updated to reflect modern ways of working.
The
Sustainability Governmentand WorkplaceNet DesignZero GuideAnnex
PDF, (the1.74 Guide)MB, sets49 clearpages
This designfile standardsmay not be suitable for the Governmentusers Propertyof Agencyassistive (GPA) estatetechnology.
Request toan createaccessible inclusive,format.
Historic GovernmentBuilding EstateAnnex
PDF, Strategy.331 KB, 18 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
Biodiversity Guideand providesNature Recovery Annex
PDF, 858 KB, 27 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
Details
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.
Updates
The toHistoric thisBuilding page
-
The
toGovernmentpreserveWorkplaceourDesignpast,Guidewhilstdevelopingauseformoderndayrequirements.Thishas been updateddevelopedtowithreflectconsultationthefromrapidHistoricevolutionEngland.FeedbackFeedbackis thewelcomewayfrompeopleallworkinterestedinparties,offices.includingThegovernmentprevioussuppliersannexesorarecontractors,nowprofessionaloutorganisations,ofordatewiderandpublichavesectorbeenbodies.removed.Commentsmaybesentbyemailtodesignguide@gpa.gov.uk.
-
25 March 2024 Biodiversity an Nature Recovery Annex .pdf and accessible HTML version added. Updated Sustainability and Net Zero Annex .pdf and created an accessible HTML version of this document
-
1 June 2022 The Government Workplace Design Guide has been updated to reflect modern ways of working.
-
7 December 2021 The page and information has been updated with version 2 of the Government Workplace Design Guide and now includes Part 2: Technical Standards.
-
7 December 2021 The page and information has now been updated with version 2 of the Government Workplace Design Guide, Parts 1 and 2.
-
26 January 2021 The Historic Building Annex has been added to the page.
-
13 October 2020 First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-07-02 08:30
The Government Workplace Design Guide has been updated to reflect the rapid evolution is the way people work in offices. The previous annexes are now out of date and have been removed.
2024-10-01 11:49
Removed the architectural annex for review
2024-03-25 09:00
Biodiversity an Nature Recovery Annex.pdf and accessible HTML version added. Updated Sustainability and Net Zero Annex.pdf and created an accessible HTML version of this document
2022-06-01 19:00
The Government Workplace Design Guide has been updated to reflect modern ways of working.