Beth Russell, the finance ministry’s second permanent secretary and a strong advocate for decentralization, has found herself endorsing Darlington, a market town in County Durham. Darlington was chosen by UK prime minister Rishi Sunak as the location for the Treasury’s new northern headquarters. The plan to relocate 22,000 civil service jobs out of London is part of the government’s effort to “level up” economic activity across the country and improve policymaking. The Darlington Economic Campus, which currently houses officials from nine departments, has become an experiment in hybrid working practices, testing whether senior staff can be based in towns rather than in city centers. Russell emphasizes that she is able to effectively advise the chancellor and the prime minister from Darlington, eliminating the need for frequent trips to London. The influx of officials from Whitehall has already had a significant impact on the town, resulting in a surge in house prices, conversion of properties into short-term rentals, and increased demand for office space. The Darlington Central Club, a working men’s venue, is among the buildings expected to be transformed into offices and apartments. The success of this experiment depends on the post-pandemic shift to hybrid working and the government’s commitment to the campus. The Institute for Government and a cross-party committee of MPs have expressed doubts about the potential impact on regional inequality and national policymaking. Despite these concerns, officials based in Darlington argue that they have gained new perspectives from their immersion in the local community and have better engaged with businesses different from those in London. Although the campus has strained the local labor market and faces space constraints, the future success of this decentralization effort relies on political stability and continuity. If successful, this experiment has the potential to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
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