Kier has been awarded the main construction contract to deliver a new Government Hub in Darlington on behalf of the Government Property Agency (GPA).
Marking a significant step forward for the Government Hubs Programme, construction will begin in January 2026 at Brunswick Street and is expected to take approximately two years, with the building ready for occupation in early 2028.
The new hub will become the permanent home of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC), hosting more than 1,600 civil servants from departments including HM Treasury, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Ground remediation works began in September to address preconstruction risks, including the removal of legacy fuel tanks and concrete slabs, and are due to complete by mid-January ahead of construction starting. This preparatory work was also carried out by Kier.
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 minimises labour and resource demands and helps to manage the complexities of building in a busy town centre location.
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 has achieved a NABERS 5-star rating for operational energy performance. These measures support the GPA’s ambition to create greener, more efficient workplaces.
Sean Fenner, managing director of Kier Construction North & Scotland, said:
“We are looking forward to continuing what is a superb collaboration with the GPA for this landmark project in Darlington.
“Our early involvement in the scheme has meant that we have been able to effectively engage with our supply chain to anticipate and address the technical challenges ahead.
“The early ground remediation works completed to date have also enabled us to better understand the site conditions and derisk the project for a smoother delivery within a busy town centre environment. We’ve brought together the very best of Kier - across our experienced design, mechanical and electrical, and construction teams - to deliver the strongest possible outcomes for this important project.”
Simon Hulme, the GPA’s director of capital projects, said:
“This is an important development for our Government Hubs Programme as we look to create great workplaces for the Civil Service while delivering a smaller, better and greener office estate.
“We are pleased to be extending our partnership with Kier and will continue to work alongside the company to ensure the construction works commence at the site seamlessly. Once completed, the Brunswick Street hub will be a modern, inclusive and digitally enabled office that promotes greater collaboration amongst civil servants, building on the success of the Darlington Economic Campus.”
DEC is a key part of the Government Hubs Programme, which aims to drive economic growth across the UK by redeveloping brownfield sites and repurposing existing buildings. Once complete, the campus will accommodate staff from multiple government departments, supporting collaboration and regional investment.