It is generally the job of WAG employees to attract investment in Wales from the US but the government has come in for some heavy criticism over the way its office space money is being spent on the East Coast.
Ministers back in Wales are convinced that the switch to offices on Third Avenue will save worthwhile sums of taxpayers’ money while allowing staff to perform their roles even more effectively than when they were working from the Chrysler Building.
WAG employees in New York are now ready to start sharing offices with UK Trade and Investment teams working with the British Consulate-General, a move expected to save tens of thousands of pounds a year.
According to official figures, the assembly’s office space in the Chrysler Building cost close to £2 million over the course of 2009-10, which opposition politicians have been quick to seize upon.
Shadow economic development and transport minister Darren Millar told the Western Mail: “Given that many people in Wales are finding it hard to make ends meet people were surprised that such a luxury base was used for government officials in the United States.
“It is important that we have a presence in the US because we need to attract companies to Wales and win overseas markets, but establishing one in such a prestigious piece of real estate in New York was astonishing.”
The Chrysler Building stands over 1,000 ft tall on the east side of Manhattan and offers some of the most prestigious office space in New York.
Back in September, the WAG opened a new office building in Llandudno Junction, where a £20 million investment has seen workspace established for roughly 650 government employees based in North Wales.
Editor’s notes: It was reported at the time that the Welsh Assembly Government would share office space with the British Consulate at 845 Third Avenue in Midtown East.
Flexible workspace provider Regus also rents office space at the property and offers a wide range of flexible office space and workspace solutions such as private serviced office suites, managed offices and coworking desk space memberships.
See the Regus office space at 845 Third Avenue here.
As of May 2023, the British Government’s website listed the British Consulate’s New York office address as 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at 885 Second Avenue.