|
|
|
|
 |
| back to Business review >> |
|
At 31 March 2001, the group had
a property portfolio of approximately 8,000 buildings, with a total
floor space of six million square metres, located principally throughout
the UK.
Specialised operational buildings account for the majority of properties,
both in number and book value. They house mainly exchange equipment
and are needed as part of the group’s continuing activities.
They do not readily adapt to other uses.
General purpose properties consist chiefly of offices, depots, computer
centres and shops.
In January 2001, we announced that we were in negotiations to realise
the value of our UK property portfolio. This, we believe, should
enable us to take a more flexible approach to our office arrangements
and building requirements. However, we intend to retain the freehold
and right to occupy our operational buildings. In April 2001, Telereal
Group, a 50/50 joint venture between Land Securities Trillium and
William Pears Group, was selected as the preferred bidder for the
proposed acquisition of the BT property portfolio and the subsequent
provision of certain buildings and management services to BT.
On 1 May 2001, we announced that, in view of the reduced number
of people requiring accommodation in the group centre at the end
of the restructuring process, and consistent with a less centralised
group, we have decided to vacate and sell our BT Centre headquarters
building in London.
The principal categories of BT’s plant and equipment are exchanges
and transmission equipment. Transmission equipment comprises copper,
fibre and radio access; underground ducts for copper and fibre access;
equipment for the trunk network; and cellular and other transmission
equipment. |
|
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
|
