“If Andy Burnham is serious about championing the North and making devolution work, he should get firmly behind Darlington."
That is the message from politicians as they call for the new Prime Minister to "buy into" Darlington's Treasury hub after launching Number 10 North in Manchester.
The new Labour leader pledged to "put power in every postcode" as he and Chancellor John Healey worked their first day at the Downing Street's Manchester branch last Friday (July 24).
But as the PM continues his bid to push power out of Westminster, calls are now being made to "make full use" of the already established Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) and ensure it is used as an example of regional devolution in action.
It follows criticism for Mr Healey’s predecessor Rachel Reeves, who the Echo revealed had worked just two days from the campus in 2025 earlier this year.
The Treasury has since said that the new Chancellor remains "strongly committed" to the site and plans to visit very soon - with former Darlington MP Peter Gibson saying he hopes Mr Healey spends more time there than Ms Reeves.
A spokesperson said: “The department represents the whole of the UK, and it is only right that we have policy makers based in the North East from a wide range of backgrounds and closer to communities and businesses – which is why we established the Darlington Economic Campus which the Chancellor is strongly committed to and is due to visit soon.
“Its success underlines the Government’s commitment to bringing decision-making closer to communities, including through No.10 North.”
This week, the Echo launched its new manifesto for the north, asking the PM to commit to six key priorities that we want to see delivered in the North East.
And one of these is including Darlington heavily in its plans for regional devolution and making it a key hub for parts of the government - and not just focusing on Manchester.
Chancellor should 'spend more time at DEC than Reeves'
Councillor Steve Harker, leader of Darlington Borough Council, has encouraged Mr Healey to work in Darlington "every chance he gets".
He said: "The council enjoys productive working relationships with colleagues across DEC.
"An example of our excellent partnership working with DEC was the Cabinet Office Community Mission pilot, which supported young people’s enterprise skills.
"Our links with DEC will continue to grow in the future, as development of the new permanent government hub takes shape in Brunswick Street, which will house around 1,600 jobs.
"I would encourage the new chancellor to spend time working at DEC every chance he gets - not only to see first-hand what has been achieved and the value it brings to Darlington, but also to use that learning in shaping the Government's plans for the new Number 10 North, in Manchester."
Former Darlington MP Peter Gibson said Mr Healey now has the opportunity to “demonstrate his commitment” and “spend more time here than Rachel Reeves did”.
He said: “The DEC is a key part of the levelling up agenda, spreading new opportunities, and delivering a fresh perspective to Government policy.
“With a new Chancellor at No11 in charge of the Treasury, and with the new PMs desire to develop No10 North, John Healey has the opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to this important mission and spend more time here than Rachel Reeves did.”
And conservative group leader and former council leader Jonathan Dulston has argued that Number 10 North’s vision already exists in Darlington.
“What has been missing is genuine ministerial buy-in and a commitment from senior government figures to use it as it was intended," Mr Dulston said.
“If Andy Burnham is serious about championing the North and making devolution work, he should get firmly behind Darlington and ensure ministers are regularly based at the DEC, listening directly to northern communities, businesses and local leaders.
“That is how you bring decision-making closer to the people it affects. The infrastructure is already in place. What is lacking is the political will to make full use of it.
“Rather than announcing new concepts, the Government should build on the success of the DEC and ensure it becomes the beating heart of government decision-making in the North.”
Darlington Treasury
First announced by the Conservative Party in 2021, the Treasury’s move to Darlington was seen as a landmark decision to make central government decisions up north.
The facility has been hailed as a “thriving hub” by council leaders, with 1,925 civil service roles currently based in the town across ten major government departments.
This includes the Department for Education, HM Treasury, Office for National Statistics, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Competition and Markets Authority.
As of July 2026, there are now around 350 Treasury staff based at DEC, almost 20% of the department's overall staff.
The Labour Government continued the project after receiving planning permission in 2024, but the party's commitment to the site came under fire over Ms Reeves' attendance record.
The former Chancellor previously said she wanted to use the town’s Treasury offices “regularly” during a visit to the site in July 2024 and even urged fellow ministers to do the same - but worked just two days there in 2025.
In January, Ms Reeves reaffirmed her commitment to the town in an exclusive chat with the Echo - but didn't go into details on whether she planned to work from Darlington more often.
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Ground was first broken on the project in January by the former Chancellor - with the building expected to be finished and open by the first quarter of 2028.
Once open, it will house more than 1,600 civil servants from seven government departments.
The new site will form part of the wider DEC, consisting of three buildings, including Feethams House and Bishopsgate House.
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