Thousands of civil servants will be moved out of London as part of a government initiative aimed at reducing costs and shifting jobs to offices across the UK.
The plan includes cutting 12,000 roles in the capital and closing 11 offices, which is expected to save £94 million annually by 2032.
The relocation plan will involve opening new government campuses in Manchester and Aberdeen, with additional roles created in various towns and cities across the country. While unions have expressed support for the relocation proposals, they have called for more clarity on how civil servants will be impacted.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden emphasized the government’s goal of moving decision-making “closer to communities all across the UK,” stating, “By relocating thousands of civil service roles we will not only save taxpayers money, we will make this government one that better reflects the country it serves.”
However, opposition figures have criticized the move. Shadow Conservative Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart argued that the plans showed Labour was “fundamentally unserious about reducing the size of the state and working more efficiently on behalf of taxpayers,” accusing the government of making “empty promises.”
As part of a spending review, government departments have been asked to submit their relocation plans, including for senior civil servants. The exact number of relocations will be determined by the review, which is expected to be completed in June. The Labour government has set a target to reduce government running costs by 15% by the end of the decade and is also looking to cut 2,100 jobs in the Cabinet Office over the next two years.
The move comes as the civil service headcount has grown significantly since 2016, reaching over 514,000 by the end of last year. The government is also planning to relocate 50% of UK-based senior civil servants to regional offices by 2030, with new campuses in Manchester focusing on digital innovation and AI, and in Aberdeen focusing on energy. The third location is yet to be announced.
In addition to Manchester and Aberdeen, new roles will be created in cities including Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow, Darlington, Newcastle, Tyneside, Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast, and York, contributing an estimated £729 million to the local economy by 2030.
Among the offices set to close in London are 102 Petty France, home to approximately 7,000 civil servants, and 39 Victoria Street, previously housing the Department of Health and Social Care. Union leaders have welcomed the relocation plans but stressed the need for more detailed discussions on the impact of these changes on civil servants’ careers.
Prospect union general secretary Mike Clancy pointed out that many civil servants already work outside London and welcomed efforts to “empower” them. However, he cautioned that the government must work closely with unions to ensure a smooth transition. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, highlighted the uncertainty that the closure of certain offices would create for affected civil servants and called for more detailed plans.
