80 jobs could be affected under government office review

The Welsh Government's long-standing office in Newtown is under threat of closure following confirmation that Ladywell House is part of an ongoing review of government accommodation across Powys.

The building currently houses 79 employees whose contractual base is located within the premises, making it a significant employer in the town centre. These positions span various government departments and have been a fixture of Newtown's economy for decades.

Montgomeryshire MS Russell George raised concerns about the potential closure during First Minister's Questions this week, warning of the devastating impact on local jobs and the wider town economy.

"These jobs don't just support the individuals and families directly involved; they also provide vital support to town centre shops and local services," Mr George said following his exchange with First Minister Eluned Morgan.

The review has been prompted by changing working patterns, including the rise of remote working since the pandemic. First Minister Morgan acknowledged that staff were being encouraged to return to offices but warned that underused sites could face closure if office attendance remained low.

"We can't justify continuing to hold offices open if people don't turn up," Morgan told the Senedd. "There will come a point where you have to say, 'If you don't turn up, we cannot justify keeping this particular office open.'"

The threat to Ladywell House represents more than just job losses for Newtown. The building has housed government organisations since the establishment of the Welsh Government, and before that served as home to predecessor bodies such as the Development Board for Rural Wales.

Now owned by Powys County Council and leased to several organisations including the Welsh Government, the building has been integral to the town's public sector presence for generations.

Mr George expressed particular concern about the impact on rural communities, arguing that maintaining a Welsh Government presence across Wales was essential for ensuring the civil service reflected the needs of all communities, not just those in the Cardiff area.

"If the Government is actively reviewing its office estate in Powys, then the future of a Welsh Government presence in Montgomeryshire must be considered at risk," he said.

The potential closure comes at a time when Newtown's town centre, like many across Wales, is already facing economic challenges. The loss of 80 well-paid public sector jobs would represent a significant blow to local businesses that rely on the daily footfall from government employees.

Mr George is now calling on the Welsh Government to provide clarity about its intentions regarding Ladywell House and to ensure that rural communities are not overlooked in future planning.

The review is part of a broader assessment of Welsh Government accommodation across the region, with the organisation currently operating from 20 different sites across Wales. The Aberystwyth office, which can accommodate 275 staff plus 137 tenants, is also believed to be part of the review process.

For Newtown residents and businesses, the coming months will be crucial as the Welsh Government decides whether the changing nature of work justifies maintaining its historic presence in the town, or whether decades of government employment in the area will come to an end.

The Welsh Government has not yet provided a timeline for when decisions regarding individual offices will be made.