New Chancellor John Healey has backed Darlington’s Treasury hub.
Mr Healey is “strongly committed” to the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) and will visit soon, the Government said, just days after he was appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
It comes after the Labour leader and Chancellor marked their first working day at the new Number 10 North on Friday in a bid to carry power “into every postcode in the land”.
Since announcing the Manchester branch of Downing Street, calls have been made for the Government to use Darlington’s Treasury as a blueprint, and make “full use” of the site.
There have also been calls for Mr Healey to visit more frequently than his predecessor Rachel Reeves, who the Echo previously revealed spent just two working days there last year.
Today, the Treasury has said it is “only right” that policy makers are based in the North East and that its success “underlines the commitment to bring decision-making closer to communities”.
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.
One of these is regional devolution and making the town’s Treasury a key hub for parts of the Government.
Councillor Steve Harker, leader of Darlington Borough Council, has now encouraged the Chancellor to spend time at the DEC “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 has also argued that Mr Healey now has the opportunity to “demonstrate his commitment” and “spend more time here than Rachel Reeves did”.
Conservative group leader and former council leader Jonathan Dulston said the PM should now get firmly behind Darlington and ensure ministers are regularly based there.
He argued: “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.”
There are now around 350 Treasury staff based at DEC, which is almost 20% of the department's overall staff.
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Work is well underway on the Treasury’s new five-storey hub, a radical transformation of a brownfield site, namely the former car park next to the Darlington East End club.
While Labour committed to the campus after their landslide victory in 2024, the party has faced criticism for having a “disregard” for the town over Ms Reeves’ lack of attendance.
Her two working days there in 2025 came after she previously said she wanted to use the town’s Treasury officers “regularly” and even urged fellow ministers to do the same.
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