The ODPM has appointed consultant Turner & Townsend to advise on the revamp of its headquarters in Victoria, south-west London.

Peter Unwin, the director general of corporate strategy and resources, told staff this month that the refit of Eland House would take place between mid-2006 and 2008.

The department wants to move in another 400 staff from at least two other London properties. Those civil servants currently share buildings with other departments and the move will save the ODPM rent.

About 80% of Eland House will be revamped; work will include fresh power systems, changes to the air-conditioning and the repositioning of workspaces.

Unwin told staff in a memo: 鈥淭he new layout will encourage better teamworking and will make communication easier. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption within the office, but I would ask for your patience, especially when office moves begin around mid-2006.鈥�

Turner & Townsend is to liaise with ODPM staff about the changes. Anthony Manning, a Turner & Townsend associate, said: 鈥淚t is a rejigging.

A lot of this work in Eland House will be space-planning. It is light touches, programmed to be completed by 2008.鈥�

There are currently about 1200 staff in Eland House, so capacity will increase one-third.