Parkinson’s UK has sold its central London headquarters and is looking to rent alternative office space in the capital.
The charity declined to confirm how much the property had been sold for but Westminster Council, which is buying the building, has allocated up to £16.5m for the acquisition, council papers show.
The property, which is close to Victoria station and was being marketed for offers in excess of £12.5m, will be leased back to the charity for up to three years while it looks for alternative office space.
The charity said it started looking at a move in 2019 because it said its office, which has been its home for more than 20 years, was no longer suitable for the needs of its workforce or the Parkinson’s community.
Some of the proceeds from the sale will be used to facilitate the office move and ongoing expenses in a new rented space with the rest being invested in its support, research and awareness work.
Parkinson’s UK has 215 staff on hybrid working contracts and a further 228 employees on fully remote contracts.
Caroline Rassell, chief executive of Parkinson’s UK, said: “It’s clearer than ever that we no longer need as much space, and the space that we do need, has to work better for our colleagues, volunteers and the Parkinson’s community.
“Staff surveys have shown that they want an office that allows easier and more effective collaboration with colleagues and the Parkinson’s community from across the four nations.
“This means accessibility and adaptability are key things we’re looking for in our new space - two things that we really don’t have currently, which stop us from being as inclusive as we want to be.”
