Kier has officially begun construction on the new Government Hub in Darlington, following a groundbreaking ceremony on 16 January led by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves together with Cabinet Office Minister, Anna Turley and officials from the Government Property Agency (GPA).
The event marks a significant milestone for the five-storey office development, which will accommodate more than 1,600 civil servants when complete.
Delivered on behalf of the GPA, the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) in Brunswick Street is set to open in early 2028 as a Government Hub. The campus will bring together teams from seven government departments, including HM Treasury, supporting the government’s commitment to regional growth.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel 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 began ground remediation works in September to prepare the site for construction. A key feature of the project is Kier’s innovative approach to prefabrication. With expertise from its in-house mechanical and electrical (M&E) team, Kier is delivering significant offsite fabrication of core building elements such as risers. This strategy supports safe and efficient delivery and reduces complexities of building in a busy town centre.
Stuart Togwell, chief executive officer 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.
“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. This whole‑lifecycle approach helps us deliver the best possible outcomes for our customers and communities, which will be realised at the Darlington Economic Campus.”
Simon Hulme, the GPA’s Director of Capital Projects, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled that construction of another Government Hub is now underway. 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. 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.”
Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Anna Turley, said:
“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 building’s façade will also be delivered using pre-cast concrete panels manufactured offsite. Kier has led the design process to ensure these panels can be craned into position rather than constructed traditionally, reducing waste and improving quality.
From a sustainability perspective, the project is targeting BREEAM Excellent and is on track to achieve a NABERS 5-star rating for operational energy performance. These measures support the GPA’s ambition to create greener, more efficient workplaces.
This project builds on our proven track record of delivering high-quality workspaces for government departments, including Vulcan House for the Ministry of Justice in Sheffield and Palatine House for the Department for Work and Pensions in Preston.
