DARLINGTON town centre is now the preferred location for a new Northern Government base should Whitehall officials decide to relocate hundreds of Treasury jobs to the Tees Valley.

After months of lobbying, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce in next week’s Budget where the Government’s new ‘Treasury North’ campus will be located, with Darlington one of the final shortlisted locations.

The Northern Echo:

It is understood Mr Sunak will choose between Darlington, Newcastle, Leeds and Bradford as the winning town or city, with hundreds of businesses and dozens of Northern MPs already urging the Chancellor to bring the jobs to the Tees Valley.

Plans to bring Treasury North to the region have previously received cross party support from MPs, council leaders and other politicians, but there has been disagreement over the preferred location, with Teesside Airport and Middlesbrough town centre just some of the sites put forward.

However, it has now emerged Darlington is the preferred option for Government officials and the site being considered by the Chancellor, with its access to the East Coast Mainline one of the significant factors.

The Northern Echo:

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who has been working on the plans with Mr Sunak for more than 12 months, said: “If the reports are accurate and Darlington town centre has been shortlisted as a possible location for Treasury North, it shows that Whitehall officials accept our area would make a superb location as the Treasury’s new northern base.

“For over a year I’ve worked on a plan to secure these jobs for local people and in every conversation with Downing Street and the Treasury I’ve made it clear the only location that will achieve the government’s objectives is Teesside, Darlington or Hartlepool. 

“The whole point of moving senior civil servants out of the capital is to dramatically change their outlook and better inform policy, something that simply cannot and will not happen if they move to another metropolitan city such as Leeds or Newcastle.

“Now is the time for the Chancellor to be at his bravest, for him to facedown the anonymous Sir Humphreys within the Treasury who think we don’t have enough culture to be home of the government’s more important and powerful department. 

“Business leaders back my plan, major Universities back my plan, leaders from across the political spectrum back my plan and the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool back my plan – the questions is, will the Chancellor?”

Peter Gibson MP for Darlington said: “As the MP for Darlington any new jobs is fantastic. It’s a testament of all that’s great about Darlington and the wider Tees Valley. I would like us to win and I would love to see these jobs here in Darlington – to support our independent businesses and traders and enjoying all we have to offer as a town.

“A really important thing to say is the fact that by relocating civil service jobs, as part of the levelling up agenda will put our region at the heart of decision making.

“It’s fantastic that we have got this far and fingers crossed that we have made the final cut.

“If we don’t there are still plenty of other opportunities – other civil servant departments we can push for, but I remain hopeful. Last week me, Matt Vickers MP for Stockton South, Jacob Young MP for Redcar, Simon Clarke MP for Middlesbrough MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Paul Howell MP for Sedgefield and Ben Houchen Mayor of Tees Valley all met with Rishi Sunak in one final push to press the case for the relocation of the treasury jobs.

“Darlington has a lot to offer – connectivity with the airport and train service, cost of living, quality of lifestyle and access to all we have here.”

The Government’s new Northern economic campus will initially see 750 Whitehall officials relocated from Westminster. Boris Johnson eventually wants to relocate 22,000 civil servants from London over the next decade.

Jessie Joe Jacobs, Labour Candidate for Tees Valley Mayor, said: "It is great news. I have championed our High Streets for many years and will fight tooth and nail to ensure it has a future. This is why we really pushed to ensure the treasury jobs came, not just to the Tees, but to one of our great town centre locations. That was essential.

"If we can get these jobs here it would be a massive boost to the area, bringing high quality jobs, increasing footfall on the High Street and giving other businesses in the area a lift. We need these jobs here and we our high streets and town centres need a boost after the shock of the Covid crisis."

Mr Sunak will also use his Budget to announce the location of his new infrastructure investment bank, a post-Brexit successor scheme for the European Investment Bank, which will be in northern England, according to reports in the Financial Times.

He could also use next week’s Budget to unveil the first Freeports across the UK, with Teesside amongst the front running bids.

Earlier this month, The Northern Echo launched its Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is campaign, urging Mr Sunak to bring Treasury jobs and Freeport status to the Tees Valley in his budget.