Council offices across the UK are more than half-empty, our investigation revealed, while the number of council staff listed as full time home-workers has more than trebled, from 1,442 to 5,153. Occupancy rates averaged just 40 per cent across council buildings in September, October and November 2022. In Stoke on Trent it was as low as 7.37 per cent.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, which published the findings, our investigations campaign manager Elliot Keck said:
"Residents will be aghast at these findings.
"The surge in home working is leaving valuable office space deserted, yet taxpayers are facing record rate rises.
"Councils should raise funds by selling off unused assets, or get workers back behind their desks sharpish."