Kickstarting economic growth
Catalysing growth across the UK through collaboration
The Government Property Agency (GPA) is driving a nationwide mission to kickstart economic growth, revitalising communities throughout the UK – and we believe that collaboration is key to our success. We’re not just managing properties; we’re igniting regeneration, creating hubs for talent, and fostering environments where businesses thrive.
Our strategic approach centres on forging strong alliances with combined and local authorities, ensuring our goals align to deliver tangible benefits that resonate on a regional scale. By working with government departments to establish a stronger presence across the UK, we’re leveling the playing field, giving more people access to Civil Service careers closer to their homes.
This not only creates opportunities for individuals but also fuels local economies, generating a ripple effect of prosperity. Our commitment goes beyond providing office space. We develop digitally-enabled hubs designed to attract investment and stimulate long-term growth. We are dedicated to creating a future where economic opportunity is within reach for all, and our collaborative work with partners across the public and private sectors is fundamental to this commitment.
Government Hubs Programme
We are delivering the Government Hubs Programme which supports economic growth across the UK through the redevelopment of brownfifield sites or repurposing existing buildings to create effificient, sustainable and productive workplaces. It also enables estate rationalisation by exiting silo buildings, reducing operating costs and carbon emissions, and is bringing government departments closer together for stronger collaboration.
Manchester First Street Hub
Manchester’s First Street Hub development is transforming a former gasworks site into a purpose-built hub for more than 2,500 civil servants from 14 departments, including circa 700 FTE employees from London to Manchester through the Places for Growth programme.
Darlington Economic Campus (DEC)
Building on 750 existing Department for Education roles, the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) has now welcomed over 1,000 more civil servants to Darlington. Around 80% of DEC staff have been recruited directly in the region, with the vast majority being new to the Civil Service.
Quay House, Peterborough
Quay House in Peterborough opened in 2023, as part of a £120m regeneration project of Fletton Quays. It brought together 1,200 civil servants from several government bodies to work in one shared building and has been named one of the world’s leading workplaces for its workplace experience excellence. The Government Hub is expected to generate over £340 million of private sector revenue for the area.
Regional Growth
We have enabled regional growth and opportunities for people to work nearer to where they live by exiting 42 buildings in Whitehall and moving 21,000 roles (to date) out of London into new hubs and redevelopments in places like Darlington, Manchester and Peterborough.