Department for Transport HQ 'great news ' for Birmingham

The Government 's plans to establish a second Department for Transport headquarters in Birmingham has been described by business leaders as “great news ” for the city.

The Birmingham headquarters will include new ministerial offices, with Ministers expected to spend a significant amount of time at the new premises.

The plans, which also include proposals for Department for Transport offices in Leeds to be established, are part of the government 's commitment to diversifying the Civil Service, and a drive to move 22,000 Civil Services jobs out of London by 2030.

More than 650 roles will be created in the cities by 2025, the government has claimed.

Recruitment for roles at the new offices in Birmingham and Leeds has already started.

Grant Shapps, 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. ”

Raj Kandola, head of policy at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said that having Ministers based in Birmingham will help them appreciate how the city has transformed over the last decade.

He said: “This is great news for our city - for too long we 've been calling out for policy making to be less centred upon Westminster and more reflective of the needs of the wider country.

“Having Ministers based in Birmingham will also help them appreciate first hand the fabulous transformation the city has undergone over the last decade and the amazing opportunities that are on the horizon.

“The move will also create a raft of jobs and the challenge will now be to ensure that as regional actors, we are genuinely able to shape transport policy at the highest level. ”