Development opportunities in Wolverhampton could be set for a major boost after the Ministry of Housing announced plans to create a joint headquarters in the city.

Minister Robert Jenrick is set to confirm more details in spring but the overall aim of the initiative will see 500 departmental staff working in the West Midlands city by 2025 and further increases by the end of the decade.

It is not known whether the government plans to build its own headquarters although the favoured option is believed to be the currently-under-construction i9 building, which has received funding from the local council with the specific aim of attracting civil service jobs.

“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,” said the Housing Minister, who was born in the city.

“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 government is planning to move more than 20,000 civil servants out of London by 2030 with the jewel in the crown being a new North of England base for HM Treasury, which is expected to be located in the North East.