Senior ministers and aides set to work from No 10 North
Those on leave were told that plans would already be underway when they returned, said a senior civil servant familiar with the discussions.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union representing senior civil servants, welcomed the changes to the government structure but warned the relocation was a big decision for staff.
“Those considering leaving London have the added concern that it will be difficult to return given the disparity in house prices,” he said, adding that a key consideration would be “whether this is a permanent redevelopment or something that could change quickly with a future government.”
Burnham told cabinet members that No 10 North was not a gimmick to reassure critics and civil servants whose careers could be reshaped by the scheme, who said it needed to prove the scheme could make a lasting difference.
Dr Simon Kaye, author of the Re:State report, told the BBC that No 10 North needed to be big enough to outlast the Burnham administration.
“This means reaching a critical mass of people, building a real sense of common purpose and getting to a place where No 10 North feels different enough and vibrant enough to survive no matter who the prime minister is,” he said.
While civil servants who spoke to the BBC largely welcomed the idea of No 10 North, some doubted whether it would be significantly different from existing regional government offices; The majority of ministers and political journalists, as well as many business leaders, continue to remain in London.
Some civil servants based in the north of England believe they should be given the opportunity to apply for jobs at No 10 North before discussions begin about potentially lucrative relocation packages for staff moving from London.
One official, who cannot be named due to the Civil Service Act, told the BBC: “I built my career here and have seen first-hand that the North is home to extraordinary talent.
“No 10 North needs to make the most of all talent and create opportunities for people to develop careers close to the communities they serve.”
Northern Powerhouse Partnership chief executive Henri Murison said the government had been moving civil servants out of London for a number of years, including to the new Darlington Economic Campus, adding: “This has seen a number of senior civil servants based from here but rarely ministerial.”
