Construction firm Kier has begun work on the new Government Hub in Darlington, following a ground-breaking ceremony held on 16 January.
The five-storey office development, delivered on behalf of the Government Property Agency (GPA), will accommodate more than 1,600 civil servants once complete. Located on Brunswick Street, the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is scheduled to open in early 2028 and will bring together teams from seven government departments, including HM Treasury.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves attended the ceremony alongside Cabinet Office Minister Anna Turley and representatives from the GPA.
Reeves said:
“The Darlington Economic Campus has brought hundreds of skilled jobs and real economic benefits to this town – and today we’re breaking ground on its permanent home.
“This new Government Hub demonstrates our long-term commitment to Darlington and to making economic decisions right across the country, not just in Westminster.”
Kier progresses remediation and early construction works
Kier began ground remediation works on the site in September to prepare for construction. The project will make extensive use of offsite manufacture, including prefabricated mechanical and electrical risers produced by Kier’s in-house M&E team.
The contractor said this approach is intended to support safe and efficient delivery and reduce the challenges associated with constructing the building in a busy town centre location.
Offsite manufacture planned for façade and core building elements
The building’s façade will be formed using pre-cast concrete panels manufactured offsite.
These panels have been designed to be craned into position rather than constructed in situ, with the aim of reducing waste and improving build quality.
Stuart Togwell, chief executive of Kier Group, said:
“We’re proud to be playing our part in shaping the future and supporting the Government as it expands its geographic footprint across the UK.
Today’s groundbreaking is an important milestone for this landmark project in Darlington, which is set to be a new home for a number of Government departments and will create significant economic and social benefits for the local community.
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“Working together with the GPA and our network of local suppliers, we have been involved in this project from the design phase, helping us reduce risks and progress seamlessly through to engineering and construction of the main works.”
Government Property Agency outlines role of Darlington Economic Campus
Simon Hulme, director of capital projects at the GPA, said the start on site marked a key moment for both the Brunswick Street development and the wider Darlington Economic Campus.
“Today’s ceremony is not only a landmark occasion for the Brunswick Street development but also a huge milestone for the GPA as we continue our ambition to provide great places of work for the Civil Service and support regional growth across the UK,” he said.
“Once completed, this building will be a modern, sustainable and digitally enabled office space, supporting the work of over 1,600 staff from across government, while becoming a core building of the Darlington Economic Campus.”
Sustainability targets include BREEAM Excellent and NABERS 5-star
The Darlington Government Hub is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating and is expected to achieve a NABERS 5-star rating for operational energy performance.
Cabinet Office highlights regional civil service growth
Anna Turley, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, said the development supports the government’s Places for Growth programme.
“Breaking ground on this new hub is a major milestone in our mission to bring the Civil Service closer to the communities it serves.
“Through our Places for Growth programme, we are ensuring that high-quality career opportunities are created outside of London, supporting economic growth across the entire country.
“This building is a visible sign of our investment in Darlington’s future, supporting and developing local talent to help deliver the government’s Plan for Change from the heart of the North East.”
The Darlington scheme follows the delivery of other government office projects in Sheffield and Preston as part of a wider programme to relocate civil service roles across the UK.
