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Post Office Network Change Programme

The recent Network Change Programme was designed to modernise and reshape the network and put it on a more sustainable footing. 

The implementation of the programme was an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). In drawing up its closure proposals, POL took account of the access criteria set by Government in May 2007. In addition, POL considered a range of other factors, such as: local geography; local demographics; the availability of public transport; and the impact on local economies of closure proposals. 

There were around 2,400 compensated branch closures made under the programme, which were partially offset by the introduction of just over 500 new Outreach services in (some) rural areas. On average, over 90% of customers saw no change to their local post office as a result of the programme. 

Even after the programme the network is still the largest retail and financial services chain in the UK with around 11,500 branches. This is more than the bank and building society branches combined. Without continuing public support, a purely commercial network would have fewer than 4,000 branches.