Louise Haigh, the first secretary of state and a senior minister in the Cabinet Office, has declined the offer of a government-owned grace-and-favour residence. As the effective deputy to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and co-ordinator of the new Office of the Prime Minister, Haigh was offered accommodation at Admiralty House, a Grade I listed apartment attached to the Old Admiralty Building on Horse Guards Parade. However, she chose not to take up residence, preferring to focus on supporting the government’s “No 10 North” initiative closer to her Sheffield Heeley constituency.

A senior source within the Labour Party indicated that Haigh intends to dedicate any available time outside Westminster to this regional project rather than relocating into taxpayer-funded housing. This comes as Burnham, who assumed office earlier this year, has used Chequers, the official prime ministerial country residence, only occasionally.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has secured exclusive use of Chevening, an 18th-century Palladian mansion situated on 3,000 acres near Sevenoaks, Kent. Chevening remains one of the most coveted government residences among cabinet members. Chancellor John Healey is also expected to succeed Rachel Reeves at Dorneywood, a ministerial country retreat located in Buckinghamshire.

Admiralty House, previously occupied by Angela Rayner during her tenure as deputy prime minister, is set to become the official residence of Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. Streeting’s current home in Ilford, east London, falls outside the designated urgent response time for his role, prompting the reassignment.

Angela Rayner, who has recently returned to the cabinet as housing secretary, has not requested the use of an official government residence following her prior occupancy of Admiralty House.

The allocation and acceptance of official residences continue to reflect the practical and logistical considerations of senior ministers, balancing proximity, security, and personal commitments while supporting the government's broader administrative priorities.