Work begins on Darlington Government Hub
Chancellor of Exchequer attends groundbreaking ceremony with Kier team
20 January 2026
Construction has officially begun on the new Government Hub in Darlington, with Kier breaking ground on the project during a ceremony led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Cabinet Office Minister Anna Turley on 16 January.
The five-storey office, located on Brunswick Street, will form the permanent home of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) and accommodate more than 1,600 civil servants when it opens in early 2028.
Delivered on behalf of the Government Property Agency (GPA), the hub will bring together staff from seven departments including HM Treasury, reinforcing the government’s commitment to regional growth and decentralisation.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “The Darlington Economic Campus has brought hundreds of skilled jobs and real economic benefits to this town – and today we're breaking ground on its permanent home.”
Kier began preparatory ground remediation in September 2025 and is now leading main construction. The contractor is deploying offsite prefabrication for key components, including M&E risers and pre-cast façade panels, in a move designed to streamline delivery and reduce disruption in the busy town centre.
Stuart Togwell, CEO of Kier Group, said: “This landmark project will create significant economic and social benefits for the local community. Our early involvement has enabled a seamless transition into construction and supports our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-quality workplaces.”
The building is targeting BREEAM Excellent and a NABERS 5-star rating, supporting the GPA’s net-zero and workplace modernisation goals.
Simon Hulme, Director of Capital Projects at GPA, added: “Once completed, this building will be a modern, sustainable and digitally enabled office space, supporting over 1,600 staff while becoming a core building of the Darlington Economic Campus.”
The scheme forms part of the government’s broader Places for Growth programme and follows successful Kier-led projects for the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Work and Pensions in other regions.
