Hot on the heels of the Treasury’s announcement to create a Northern headquarters in the North East, the Department for Transport this morning revealed plans to put a second HQ in Birmingham and a northern hub in Leeds.

Earlier this month Chancellor Rishi Sunak committed to moving hundreds of civil service jobs to Darlington and today it was the turn of Grant Shapps as the government continues its drive to move 22,000 Civil Service out of London by 2030.

The Transport Secretary said: “This is a historic move for the department and part of a significant wider culture change across Whitehall.

“Transport is absolutely vital to the local communities we serve and having hubs in major cities like Birmingham and Leeds will offer a fresh perspective on how we can better serve these areas.

The Birmingham headquarters will include new ministerial offices, with ministers expected to spend a significant amount of time there as the government works to rebuild the UK. The news of DfT creating a northern hub in Leeds comes on the back of the government confirming the UK’s first-ever infrastructure bank will also be based in the city.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council, said: “This is another positive investment recognising our region’s strengths, following the decision to locate the UK Infrastructure Bank here, bringing benefits not just to Leeds but Bradford and the wider region. I hope it will help us as we make the compelling case for future investment in our transport system, to better connect our communities and raise living standards while cutting carbon emissions.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “The West Midlands has undergone a transport revolution in recent years, with the reopening of old railway lines, expanded tram routes, and an upgraded green bus fleet, along with the rollout of e-scooters and a cycle hire scheme. The DfT will be right at home here, and I look forward to welcoming the team to the best connected region in the UK.”

The DfT has already begun recruiting in Birmingham and Leeds, with 100 roles created so far. This includes senior civil servant positions, which otherwise would have been based in London.