GPA appoints Kier as Darlington campus development partner
The Government Property Agency has signed Kier as the initial development partner for a major hub at Darlington Economic Campus.
The scheme is GPA’s first new-build freehold building, with the agency owning the four-storey property and land in its entirety, removing the need to lease.
The new hub will house civil service staff from His Majesty’s Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; the Office for National Statistics; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; the Competition and Markets Authority; the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, in addition to the Department for Education, which is already based in Darlington.
The Government Property Agency has signed Kier as the initial development partner for a major hub at Darlington Economic Campus.
The scheme is GPA’s first new-build freehold building, with the agency owning the four-storey property and land in its entirety, removing the need to lease.
The new hub will house civil service staff from His Majesty’s Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; the Office for National Statistics; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; the Competition and Markets Authority; the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, in addition to the Department for Education, which is already based in Darlington.
The organisations have agreed a pre-construction services agreement to deliver the project, earmarked for Brunswick Street, after the planning application was lodged with Darlington Borough Council last month.
The GPA and Kier will develop the design and engage with the supply chain to prepare the way for building to begin. Subject to planning consent being granted, works are scheduled to start at the end of the year, completing in 2027.
The latest hub would become part of the DEC, which includes Feethams House and Bishopsgate House. It will also form part of the Government Hubs Programme, which seeks to catalyse the regeneration of brownfield sites and create sustainable workplaces for civil servants.
Once open, the building will provide office space for around 1,400 civil servants. Since 2021, an additional 800 civil servants have been recruited into the DEC, adding to the 750 DfE staff already based in the town.
Parliamentary secretary for the Cabinet Office Alex Burghart said: “We are committed to creating modern and productive working environments for civil servants in Darlington, enabling them to deliver the best possible service to taxpayers.”
Clive Anderson, director of capital projects at the GPA, said: “The GPA is looking forward to working with Kier Construction on this exceptional freehold project to deliver a next-generation government hub at the DEC.
“This development will continue to support levelling up and Places for Growth, creating considerable regional economic benefit as well as helping to transform the civil service to better represent the public we serve.”
Stuart Togwell, group managing director of Kier Construction, said: “ Working in partnership with the GPA, we will create an exemplar building to support and create a new flagship regional hub for the Government and a sustainable, inclusive and collaborative environment for its employees.
“Our strong regional footprint also means we will deliver the scheme through local supply chains and create employment opportunities including apprenticeships.”
