The government must overhaul how it deals with its properties as it is impossible to make savings using the current processes, Topshop founder Sir Philip Green has said in his efficiency report.

Green has this afternoon published his review of government efficiency, and has criticised the government for not managing its property as if it is a commercial estate. He said it costs £25bn to manage government property each year but that only 6% of the estate is benchmarked.

The review has recommended that government property should be managed centrally, and that a strategy should be implemented by experts in the private sector.

The founder of retail group Arcadia said that accurate data needed to be collected at the centre and that the government needed to be in a position to take advantage of market changes.

He also said that all properties in the government estate should be benchmarked so they can be proactively managed. Green said he backed the government’s moratorium on sign lease, which has been extended until 2015.

“Having carried out this review and discussed it with the senior civil servants I have worked with, they all believe that it is impossible for the civil service to operate efficiently with the current processes in place,” said Green.

He added: “There is a huge opportunity that has been clearly identifies both in central government and beyond but, without a clear mandate, energy, focus and commitment, this cannot be delivered.”

To read the full report, click here.

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