ANOTHER raft of Whitehall jobs could move to the North-East – with a controversial new £49m council HQ building being eyed as a possible location.

The Government has promised to move tens of thousands of civil servants out of central London and relocate their jobs across the country as part of the Levelling Up agenda.

Today, North West Durham MP Richard Holden and Sedgefield MP Paul Howell urged the Government to look to County Durham for its next big move.

Both Conservative MPs suggested that Durham County Council’s proposed new headquarters at The Sands in Durham City – the future of which is uncertain since a change in leadership at the authority - could be the perfect spot.

And Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove agreed to look at the proposal, which follows confirmation that 750 Treasury workers, 500 Overseas Trade civil servants and 105 posts with the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will be located in Darlington and Teesside.

Mr Howell suggested The Sands could house the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) – a new agency led by scientists who will support and fund the UK’s next generation of “high risk, high reward” pioneering inventors.

WATCH: SEDGEFIELD MP PAUL HOWELL ASKS MICHAEL GOVE TO CONSIDER DURHAM AS A LOCATION FOR ARIA

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He said: “It could be the perfect location, linking Durham University and the innovative businesses on NETPark at Sedgefield and doing this could then encourage the local team to share more of their staff around places like Bishop Auckland, Consett, Crook, Newton Aycliffe and of course Sedgefield.”

“And indeed Peterlee,” responded Mr Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

He said: “He makes a very, very important point. It has been a pity the Labour administration in County Durham have squandered County Durham taxpayers’ money in the way that they have, but the point he makes about the Advanced Research Agency’s potential location in the North-East and in Durham is a very good one and I’ll discuss it.”

The decision to move from the current headquarters at County Hall, Aykley Heads, to the Sands was made by the council when it was Labour-led.

But the new joint administration, which took over leadership of the council following the local elections in May, has ordered a review of the move and potential alternative uses for the new site, which is close to completion.

WATCH: NORTH WEST DURHAM MP RICHARD HOLDEN CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS IN COUNTY DURHAM

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Richard Holden speaks in Parliament today

Mr Holden said: “The new joint administration in County Durham has been left high and dry with a £50m County Hall bequeathed to them by the previous Labour administration.

“To prevent it becoming an enormous white elephant, a totem to Labour hubris in their administration of County Durham for last 100 years, would my Right Honourable Friend commit to working with the new joint administration at DCC to explore all the possibilities this new facility might have?”

Mr Gove said: “I absolutely will.

“It is horrific that so much public money has been misused by the former Labour administration in Durham County Council and the people of that county have been so poorly served.

“I will of course, absolutely investigate that.”

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Michael Gove MP

In what could been considered political mischief-making, Mr Gove said he would pick Consett, which Mr Holden’s constituency covers, over Durham City, where Labour’s Mary Foy is MP, if it was a choice between the two.

He said: “But I should also say if it was a choice between Durham and Consett for the relocation of Government jobs I would choose Consett every time.”

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Richard Holden MP at the proposed new Durham County Council HQ at The Sands, Durham

Following the session in the House of Commons today, Mr Holden said: “For too long the UK Government has seen both jobs and attitudes centred around Central London.

“With the Government moving departments out of London, it is vital that County Durham is not left out. We are calling for our county to be considered alongside further moves to the North of England and Midlands generally.

“This move out of central London is important, not just for the direct jobs it brings, but also for the change in perspectives it will help bring to the institutions of the Government.”

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County Council, said: "We are currently reviewing options for the future of the building and various potential uses are being considered to ensure best value and economic benefit from our investments.”