Communities secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed the government will create a second headquarters in Wolverhampton
The new MHCLG HQ in Wolverhampton will include the presence of ministers – making it the first such ministerial office outside of London with a regular ministerial presence.
Senior civil servants will also be based in Wolverhampton, ensuring this becomes a centre for policy development and decision-making.
500 new Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) roles will be based across the West Midlands by 2025.
This historic move signals a culture change in civil service to give a stronger voice to communities in our mission to level up opportunity and prosperity across the regions.
These moves will help deliver an economic boost to these areas, bring a greater variety of voices and experiences into the civil service and help provide improved career paths outside of Whitehall.
Recruitment is already underway, with 40 roles already relocated to the region in the last 12 months.
MHCLG will be working in partnership with other Government departments to improve collaborative working and develop greater career options outside London so we retain talented civil servants based outside of London.
‘First ever ministerial office outside of Westminster’
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “As communities secretary, I am determined to spread opportunity and prosperity to every part of our nation.
“That is why I am delighted to be taking the historic step of moving significant numbers of senior roles out of Whitehall and creating the first ever ministerial office outside of Westminster in Wolverhampton – increasing the jobs in the Midlands to over 500.
“With a dual headquarters in Wolverhampton, my department will not only change where we work but how we work, signalling the end of the Whitehall knows best approach.
“All of us at the department are looking forward to having the opportunity to work there.
“This government knows that by having more local voices at the heart of our policy development and delivery, we will support our communities more effectively, and we will continue to develop greater career options in government outside of London.
“In choosing the city of Wolverhampton we are also backing our great smaller cities, some of which have been neglected for too long. We want to raise their stature, encourage civic pride and commercial success.”
The new building for the MHCLG HQ in Wolverhampton will be announced in the spring.
