The proposed multi-million dollar purchase of property in London for the establishment of a Government of Anguilla office was the subject of a series of parliamentary questions.
During the 10 February meeting of the Anguilla House of Assembly, opposition member Merrick Richardson sought clarification and transparency on the potential future Anguilla House.
He asked about its intended purpose, projected purchase price and ongoing costs, proposed governance and management arrangements, and whether appropriate due diligence has been carried out.
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In response, Premier Cora Richardson Hodge outlined the administration’s rationale for pursuing a permanent presence in the United Kingdom and provided updates on its status.
The exchange is detailed below:
MR: Will the premier state whether government has purchased a property in the United Kingdom. If so, the completion date, and, if not, whether a site has been identified and the general location (subject to commercial confidentiality)?
CRH: Government has not made an offer and has not completed the purchase of a property in the United Kingdom as of 10 February 2026.
Government has, however, undertaken preparatory and exploratory work to identify suitable options, including engaging technical advice and the preliminary market sounding.
As part of this work, government engaged an experienced real estate agent with the requisite market knowledge to support the search and to help ensure that the options considered were aligned with government’s functional requirements and the realities of the London market.
In addition, there have been preliminary discussions with UK legal counsel in coordination with the Attorney General’s Chambers to ensure that government’s approach is properly informed by the UK conveyancing environment, and that any future steps should be taken are sequenced appropriately and protect the public interest.
A number of properties have been viewed and considered.
Government has examined multiple options and configurations, assessing them against practical criteria such as location, accessibility, suitability for official and administrative functions, security considerations, potential for efficient use of space and the overall feasibility of the arrangements.
This has allowed government to move beyond general concepts and to develop a clearer understanding of what is realistically available and suitable.
In terms of location, government can indicate only the general area as central London, given operational requirements and proximity to key UK institutions and partners.
However, I must emphasise that specific sites, addresses and identifying details are not disclosed at this stage, as doing so could prejudice government’s position and distort negotiations.
Government will provide further information at the appropriate stage, once it can do so without undermining the public interest and subject always to the requirements of commercial confidentiality.
MR: What is the intended purpose of the property, and which ministry will be responsible for its management?
CRH: The intended purpose is to establish a modest and functional Government of Anguilla presence in the United Kingdom – Anguilla House – to support priority needs, including enhance the regional and international presence and impact of Anguilla, strengthen the voice of Anguilla with His Majesty’s Government, provide consular services, such as assistance in applying for passports and visas, and support for persons seeking medical attention in the UK, support Anguillian students in the UK, meeting space for government, business and diaspora engagement, administrative support functions connected to UK facing matters and improved efficiency and continuity for visiting delegations and technical missions.
In addition, the facility could also support tourism promotion, marketing of the domain name and inward investment outreach, either on a transient basis, for example, promotional events and engagements, rotating missions, temporary desks, scheduled outreach periods, or if justified over time, on a more permanent basis, through dedicated functions or co-location arrangements.
Overall direction rests with the Office of the Premier, with operational arrangements and financial management through the Ministry of Finance, in line with the government’s normal administrative framework.
There will also be collaboration with the relevant entities responsible for tourism and investment promotion.
MR: What is the total cost of the purchase (including fees, taxes and associated expenses), and from which budget line/s will it be financed?
CRH: As of today, government has not purchased any property in the UK, and therefore no final purchase price has been incurred.
For the avoidance of doubt, any proposed acquisition would be subject to a rigorous due diligence process, which takes place after making a non-binding offer, designed to protect the public interest and ensure value for money.
This will include independent valuations to confirm market value, legal due diligence on title, encumbrances, restrictive covenants and contractual terms, structural and building condition surveys and where necessary, confirmation of planning and permitted use, including any requirements for change of use, assessment of service charges, sinking funds and lease obligations.
Additionally, there will be a review of operational suitability for government’s intended functions.
In parallel, government would assess the total life-cycle cost so that the one off acquisition cost and the recurring operating costs are clearly understood before any commitment is made.
As the honourable members are aware, there is no specific allocation within the 2026 Budget for the acquisition of a UK property and savings in the capital budget have not been identified this early in the financial year.
At the end of 2025, Executive Council authorised the transfer of funds identified in capital expenditure savings in the 2025 Budget to escrow. Due to the short time frame, escrow was not established.
Accordingly, should government determine that it is in the national interest to proceed, a supplementary appropriation will be brought before this honourable house to authorise the expenditure consistent with the Financial Administration Act and the sound public financial management.
At that time, the house will be furnished with fuller details, including the way the fiscal framework supports the transaction, together with the total cost over time.
This will include the one off acquisition and establishment costs and the projected recurring cost associated with operating and maintaining the property.
This is what transparency, accountability and good governance looks like – progressing Anguilla for the benefit of Anguillians in a clear and deliberate manner.
MR: Has Executive Council approved the purchase, and if so, will any documents relating to the purchase be laid before this house pursuant to the Financial Administration and Audit Act?
Answered.
MR: Was a cost–benefit analysis conducted comparing purchase versus lease/rent options, and, if so, on what date was it completed?
CRH: Government’s approach to this matter has been guided by a clear strategic preference for acquisition rather than a long term lease or rent, given the objective of establishing a stable and enduring presence in the UK and avoiding ongoing exposure to escalating rental costs and lease constraints over time.
In that context, while government has considered at a high level the relative implications of lease or rent versus purchase, the work to date has focused primarily on identifying options that will be suitable for government’s intended purposes and capable of meeting operational requirements.
As the matter progresses, government’s emphasis will be on ensuring that any proposed acquisition is affordable, fit for purpose and supported by appropriate due diligence and governance so that the house can be satisfied that the public interest is protected.
Any further details will be provided at the appropriate stage, mindful of commercial confidentiality while negotiations and vetting remain ongoing.
MR: Was legal advice sought from the Attorney General’s Chambers regarding this purchase?
CRH: Legal advice has been sought throughout from the Attorney General’s Chambers in relation to the proposed establishment of a UK property arrangement, and the matter has been approached with the level of legal care and the diligence that one would expect for any overseas asset contemplated for the Government of Anguilla.
From the outset, the Attorney General’s Chambers has been engaged to ensure that government’s approach is lawful, properly authorised and structured to protect the public interest.
In addition, recognising that a UK based transaction must be navigated within the relevant UK legal and conveyancing framework, the Attorney General’s Chamber has also ensured that government is supported by United Kingdom legal counsel.
UK counsel is being engaged to provide jurisdiction specific advice and support, including where necessary advice on property law and conveyance in practice, title and ownership verification, identification of any encumbrances, restrictive covenants, easements, review of contractual terms and conditions, and guidance on the implications of any planning use or compliance issues that may be relevant to government intended functions.
This dual layer arrangement, local legal oversight through the Attorney General’s Chambers, alongside UK counsel for UK specific matters, ensures that government’s decision making is not only commercially sensible, but legally sound and properly risk managed.
It also supports the principle that any acquisition it pursued will be undertaken with appropriate protections built in, including the ability to withdraw should the legal or technical findings not support proceeding.
Government will continue to be guided by the Attorney General’s Chambers and UK counsel as the matter progresses, and will ensure that the house can be assured that the proper legal checks, safeguards and approvals have been observed.
MR: What policies will govern the property, and what internal controls will be implemented to ensure proper management and accountability?
CRH: Government is clear that any UK property acquired for the purpose of a permanent, Anguilla office must be governed by policies and controls that reflect and fully comply with our established public sector administrative and financial management framework.
This is public business and it must be treated with the discipline, transparency and accountability that the people of Anguilla rightly expect.
In terms of responsibility, the property will be managed through the Ministry of Finance, consistent with the arrangements by which government assets are safeguarded and the public resources are administered.
At this stage, government’s expectations are straightforward and in line with expected principles of use of public assets, clear lines of authority and accountability, including defined approvals and documented decision making, appropriate administrative controls over access use, safeguarding of government property and records and day to day stewardship, strong financial controls, including proper approvals, procurement discipline, contract management and an auditable trail of expenditure and regular reporting and oversight at a level proportionate to the scale and the nature of the operation.
We are also being realistic, this would be an asset located miles away in a different jurisdiction, and so the controls must not only be robust, but they must be practical and workable.
The framework must ensure proper stewardship from Anguilla while recognising the operational realities of managing an overseas facility.
To that end, government will actively consult colleagues across other overseas territories to learn from their experience what works, what does not, and what governance arrangements best support effective overseas operations.
We intend to apply those lessons so that Anguilla adopts a model that is sensible, modern and fit for purpose.
Finally, as the operating model is settled and the matter progresses, further information will be provided to this honourable house at the appropriate stage, mindful of the need for transparency while also respecting the requirements of commercial confidentiality during ongoing processes.
MR: What is the estimated annual recurring cost (maintenance, insurance, security, property taxes, parking charges and utilities), and for which financial year do these estimates apply?
CRH: While it would be premature to state a firm figure, government anticipates that the principal recurring cost will fall within the standard categories for a modest London office footprint, namely property management fees, utilities, insurance, routine maintenance and proportionate security arrangements.
The level of these costs is highly sensitive to the preferred option and the operating model.
For that reason, government will provide the house with a validated annual estimate once the preferred option is sufficiently advanced and those obligations are confirmed through due diligence.
MR: Were independent valuations commissioned, and, if so, on what dates and by which firms?
CRH: Government intends to proceed in a prudent and properly controlled manner, and that includes the use of independent professional valuation advice as part of the overall due diligence process.
At this stage, as no acquisition process has started, I am not in a position to provide final dates and firm name for the valuation.
However, once a preferred property is confirmed and executive council authorises the submission of a non-binding offer, government will ensure that the necessary professional due diligence commences, which would include commissioning an independent valuation and where appropriate, given the nature of the asset and the level of investment, additional valuation input to provide further assistance.
Consistent with commercial confidentiality and the need to avoid prejudicing negotiations, government will provide further information at the appropriate stage.
Once the matter progresses beyond negotiations and due diligence to final decision making and the requisite approvals, government will be in a position to confirm what was the outcome of the valuations that were commissioned and to provide the relevant details in a manner that protects the public interest while maintaining appropriate transparency.
MR: What annual income, if any, is projected to arise from the property, and on what assumptions are these projections based?
CRH: Government’s primary objective in considering the United Kingdom property is strategic and operational to support official engagement, government business and where appropriate, tourism and inward investment outreach.
It is not being pursued as a commercial venture.
That said, government is mindful of the need to manage the public purse responsibly and in examining options, has considered configurations that could include space in excess of government’s core operational requirements.
Where the preferred option provides additional space of that nature, government’s intention would be to explore rental arrangements so that the property is efficiently utilised, and so that there is an opportunity to offset a portion of the ongoing operating cost.
At this stage, however, government is not in a position to present a specific annual income figure, and the income potential will depend on the final option selected and the terms that can be reasonably achieved in the market.
Any projections would require verified information, such as the amount of space available for lease, prevailing rental rates for comparable space, expected occupancy and lease terms, fit out and compliance requirements, service charges and operating costs attributable to the letable area, and the timeframe over which rental could realistically commence.
Should the government proceed to the point where the acquisition is sufficiently advanced and due diligence is on the way, the house will be provided with further information on the anticipated rental approach and the assumptions underpinning any projections consistent with the need for transparency and proper accountability, while remaining mindful of commercial confidentiality during live processes.
