Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to commence working from Manchester one day a week, a move he insists is not a "gimmick" but a commitment to devolving power away from Westminster.
Downing Street confirmed that Burnham, often dubbed the "King of the North," will begin his weekly visits to Manchester, where his family resides and where he previously served as mayor, starting this Friday. However, the purpose-built office, referred to as 'No10 North,' is not slated to be operational until 2032, as construction has not yet begun on the designated site.
In the interim, Burnham plans to utilize an existing government office in central Manchester. Signs indicate that security measures are already being enhanced around the location, which reportedly includes a pub within the same building.
Downing Street has stated that the initiative will not incur additional costs for taxpayers, asserting that the running of 'No10 North' will be absorbed by existing Cabinet Office budgets. However, some experts have raised concerns about the potentially substantial costs associated with fortifying an office for the Prime Minister and providing round-the-clock armed police protection.
According to the Prime Minister's official spokesperson, Burnham informed the Cabinet that 'No10 North' is intended to accelerate growth and delivery. "The time for resisting devolution was over, and it was very clear that this was the direction the Government was heading in," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also indicated that staff are already working in the new 'No10 North' capacity, operating from existing UK government offices in Manchester. Relocation packages for London-based personnel are described as standard practice.
The Treasury approved the 'outline case' for a civil service 'digital campus' in Manchester in March of this year. This project, which has been in development since 2017, envisions approximately 8,800 civil servants based at a 900,000-square-foot venue by 2032. The chosen site is a five-acre plot.
While the government emphasizes its commitment to decentralization, some local responses to the development plans have expressed concerns. Critiques have focused on the proposed architecture, with one comment describing it as "extremely dull" and featuring a "great big massive blank wall." Another warned that the buildings might be "too tall for this site" and could "dominate" the area, potentially leading to overcrowding.
