A glowing report has revealed the huge boost a Darlington
Government base has made to the town and the wider region.
The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) hosts a string of Government
departments including the Department for Business and Trade
(DBT), HM Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and
Technology (DSIT).
And a new independent
report has found 78% of the survey respondents agreed or
strongly agreed the campus had boosted job opportunities – with
two-thirds of those surveyed agreeing it had made a positive
impact.
International consulting firm Drees and Sommer was commissioned
by the Treasury to measure the DEC's role since it came to the
town.
The campus was poised to go to a major city, but Darlington was
chosen in 2021 after years of lobbying.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I'm proud the huge effort we
made in ensuring we brought the Treasury and wider campus to
Darlington has paid off.
“This survey shows in black and white the massive impact it's
made to jobs, investment and careers right on our doorstep.
“This has been a trailblazer in showing hundreds of people from
Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool can build a great civil
service career close to home.
“I'm looking forward to the Brunswick site being developed as
soon as possible – and I'll keep working as hard as I can to
ensure central Government keep their word and build on
Darlington's early success.”
The report shows how there were almost 900 people working in new
roles created and based in Darlington in summer last year – with
Feethams House the main base for the roles.
A “huge amount” of business enquiries showing interest in the
area and an increase in legal firms moving to the area were also
highlighted on the back of the campus's arrival.
A bigger base at the upcoming Brunswick Campus, near the
Hippodrome Theatre, is in the pipeline to come in 2027 after
gaining planning consent
last summer.
This five-storey base in Brunswick Street will see civil service
jobs rise at the DEC to more than 1,400.
