Kier Secures £118 Million Contract for Civil Servant Hub in Darlington

Kier has been awarded the contract to construct a four-storey office building for civil servants in Darlington.

This project, valued at £118 million, will encompass the design and construction of a state-of-the-art office space set to accommodate 1,400 civil servants upon its completion in 2027. This initiative forms part of a broader governmental strategy to decentralize civil servant positions across the UK, aligning with the government’s levelling-up agenda. The project is funded by the Government Property Agency (GPA) and will be entirely government-owned under a freehold arrangement.

Kier has entered into a preconstruction service agreement with the GPA, which is a division within the Cabinet Office responsible for managing government properties. Construction is slated to commence at the end of 2024, pending planning approval. The GPA submitted the necessary planning documents to Darlington Council last month. The new facility will be integrated into the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC), which will eventually house over 2,300 civil servants from eight departments, including the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. According to the GPA, 80% of the DEC’s workforce will be locally recruited.

Stuart Togwell, Kier Construction’s Managing Director, stated: “In partnership with the GPA, we aim to create an exemplary building that will serve as a flagship regional hub for the government. This will be a sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative environment for its employees. Our robust regional presence ensures that we will utilize local supply chains and generate employment opportunities, including apprenticeships.” Alex Burghart, Cabinet Office Parliamentary Secretary, emphasized the government’s commitment to establishing modern and productive workspaces for civil servants in Darlington. He noted, “Our expanding presence in Darlington will enable us to attract and retain talented individuals from across the North of England in key Civil Service roles.”