Starmer government discussed moving staff out of Downing Street

Keir Starmer’s government considered moving staff out of 10 Downing Street because of concerns that its cramped, maze-like layout hindered collaboration, according to senior figures cited by the BBC. The discussions were at an early stage and did not amount to a decision to relocate.

James Lyons, who was the prime minister’s director of communications from October 2024 to September 2025, said on LinkedIn that “moving out was something that was discussed” while he was in post. Two other senior figures confirmed discussions about moving staff to an open-plan office in another government department. One said space in the Foreign Office building had been identified.

The sources said the idea did not progress far. It is not known whether Starmer was consulted, and there was no proposal to move the prime minister’s residence from Downing Street.

The debate concerns the workplace rather than the government’s official residence. Downing Street is more than 300 years old and comprises more than 100 rooms across three joined houses. Lyons backed comments by Iceland boss and former Starmer adviser Lord Walker, who told the Financial Times that the building was “no longer ‘fit for purpose’”.

The discussion came amid wider efforts to reorganise the centre of government. After succeeding Starmer, Andy Burnham created the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, bringing together Number 10, Number 10 North and other parts of the Cabinet Office. The government says the new office is intended to focus the centre of government on its strategic priorities. People around Burnham told the BBC he had not yet formed a view on whether Downing Street is suitable as a workplace.