The UK government plans to reduce its London civil service workforce by 12,000 jobs and close 11 central London offices as part of a strategy to cut costs and decentralise operations. The move aims to save approximately £94 million annually by 2032.
New government campuses will open in Manchester and Aberdeen, with additional roles created in cities including Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast, York, Darlington, and Tyneside. The Manchester campus will focus on digital innovation and AI, while the Aberdeen site will specialise in energy. A third regional campus location is yet to be confirmed.
This initiative is part of a broader government effort to shrink the civil service, which has grown to over 514,000 staff since 2016. The Cabinet Office plans to cut 2,100 jobs within its department over the next two years, contributing to a 15% reduction in overall government running costs by 2030.
The government has requested departments to submit detailed relocation plans for staff, including senior civil servants, in preparation for an upcoming spending review due in June. Half of the UK-based senior civil servants are expected to be outside London by 2030.
102 Petty France, a major Ministry of Justice hub, and 39 Victoria Street, home to the Department of Health and Social Care, are among the London offices set for closure.
Industry unions have cautiously welcomed the decentralisation plans but emphasise the need for clear communication regarding employee impact and career development opportunities outside London.
Economic projections estimate that relocating and expanding government roles outside London could generate £729 million for local economies by 2030.
