London-based civil servants offered move to No 10 North in Manchester
BBC News 2026-07-21 12:40:12
Context: The UK government is relocating some of its operations to the North of England, with civil servants from London-based departments being offered relocation packages to move to Manchester. This move is part of the establishment of No 10 North, a new Northern branch of Downing Street, overseen by cabinet minister Louise Haigh. The initiative aims to rebalance power in Britain and drive the UK's economy.
Key Facts
- The initial location of No 10 North will be Heron House in central Manchester, where offices for the intelligence service GCHQ are also housed, and specialist police officers have been seen guarding the building.
- A new government "Digital Campus" is under construction in the Ancoats area of Manchester and is expected to be the longer-term base for No 10 North, but it is not due for completion until 2032.
- The new Office for the Prime Minister, led by Louise Haigh, will give her control of key decision-making bodies across government, including an AI Taskforce.
- A report by the Re:State think tank, which Andy Burnham was involved with, suggests that around 300 staff should be employed within 18 months, with teams transferred from Whitehall departments such as the Treasury, Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
- Whitehall officials willing to move to Manchester have been told they will be offered relocation packages, and at least three senior figures are understood to have agreed to work at No 10 North, including some from Andy Burnham's former mayoral team at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.