BDA To Relocate HQ
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- Published: Friday, 08 November 2024 10:38
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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The British Dental Association (BDA) is to leave its 64 Wimpole Street base. The building has been home to the BDA for over sixty years and is treasured by many members for its prestigious location in the heart of London‘s medical hub.
Wimpole Street runs parallel to Harley Street and is a stone’s throw from the original University College Hospital as well as dozens of private hospitals and clinics. In addition to being home to the BDA’s offices, 64 Wimpole Street houses the BDA’s library plus a renowned dental museum which is listed as a ’tourist attraction’ in countless London visitor guides.
Announcing the Board’s decision to seek a new base, Chair Eddie Crouch said "It’s been obvious since the pandemic that the headquarters office in central London is too big for our routine needs."
Much of the work of the BDA’s team is undertaken remotely. Fielding calls from members and working online poses few challenges for teams who require little more than a phone and a laptop.
GDPUK understands that changing work practices coupled with the landlord offering the BDA an attractive offer to vacate the building combined to drive the BDA’s decision.
In a blog published on the BDA’s website, Mr Crouch explained "It’s been obvious since the pandemic that the headquarters office in central London is too big for our routine needs.
"We don’t own our Wimpole Street building but do have a long-term lease. That lease has value given the long-term remaining on it, but it also contains some restrictions on building use. The landlord, the Howard de Walden Estate, has made the board an offer to give up the lease.
"We reached the conclusion that the BDA’s best interest is served by us selling the lease and vacating our HQ" said Mr Crouch, who added that "maintaining the overhead of a building that no longer dovetailed with needs was not a good use of members’ money.".
Mr Crouch was at pains to reassure members that the future of the library and museum would be subject to sensitive consideration and that "we intend to use this milestone in our history as an opportunity to improve how we support staff and members."
"We will be making sure that elected members and their committees have good quality facilities for face-to-face meetings at the start of the new governance period" said Mr Crouch.
At A Glance : Howard de Walden Estate
64 Wimpole Street is owned by the Howard de Walden Estate.
According to Wikipedia, the family owned 95 acres estate dates back to 1715 and consists of over 800 properties. According to the company’s 2020 annual report it was worth £4.7BN. Its value today will be considerably more.
Its most celebrated zones are the Harley Street Medical Area, Marylebone Village and fashionable Marylebone High Street which was extensively redeveloped in the 1990s.
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