The Home Office has invited agents to pitch for an instruction to sell three of its main central London buildings.
As first revealed by Estates Gazette (12 April), the Home Office wants to cash in on Abel House, Cleland House and Horseferry House in the heart of the SW1 civil estate, as part of its move to a new 500,000 sq ft HQ in Marsham Street in 2005.
The move follows a strategic review submitted earlier this month by its agent Donaldsons. Donaldsons had been expected to handle the forthcoming sales but this week the Home Office invited up to 10 agents to bid for the work.
The work is to include “development of the disposals strategy, identification and evaluation of options, architectural and cost consultancy, sale by competition or negotiation”.
The deadline is 14 May. Invitations to tender will be made in June, with a preferred adviser expected to be selected by August. The contract will run until the end of 2007.
Donaldsons refused to comment but is expected to bid. Bidders are also likely to include Knight Frank, Chesterton, DTZ and Lambert Smith Hampton, all of whom have advised the government on its central London accommodation strategy in the past.
