Senior ministers and aides close to Prime Minister Andy Burnham are set to regularly work from No 10 North, a new branch of Downing Street established in Manchester. The initiative, intended to be a "dominant driver of the UK's economy," will see key figures like Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner operating from the northern hub.

No 10 North is currently based in Heron House in Manchester city centre, with plans for a larger facility on a redeveloped brownfield site that will form part of the Manchester Digital Campus. This move signifies a significant decentralization of government operations, shifting focus and resources away from London.

The blueprint for No 10 North, developed by the think tank Re:State, envisions a workforce of up to 300 staff within 18 months. Prime Minister Andy Burnham intends to spend at least one day a week at the Manchester location and is expected to begin working there imminently. His closest adviser, Kevin Lee, director of his mayoral office, will also relocate to No 10 North after the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral election.

At least seven employees from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), including four senior managers, have been recruited by Burnham and are moving into No 10 North. Among them are Chief Executive Caroline Simpson, who will become Downing Street's deputy chief of staff, and Directors John Wrathmell and Claire Norman.

Concerns have been raised by some London-based civil servants regarding the uncertainty surrounding the relocation plans, with many details yet to be formally announced. Senior officials were informed of a significant program to move staff out of London prior to Burnham becoming Prime Minister, with some told the plans would be underway upon their return from leave.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, acknowledged the potential benefits of restructuring government but highlighted the significant personal considerations for staff contemplating a move. He noted the difficulty of returning to London given housing price disparities and stressed the importance of the reorganisation feeling permanent rather than transient.

Burnham has sought to reassure critics and civil servants that No 10 North is not merely symbolic, emphasizing the need for it to demonstrate a lasting impact. Dr. Simon Kaye, author of the Re:State report, stated that No 10 North must achieve a size and influence sufficient to outlast the current administration. This requires building a critical mass of staff, fostering a shared purpose, and establishing a distinct and vital presence that can endure regardless of future political leadership.

While many civil servants expressed general support for the concept of No 10 North, some questioned whether it would offer a substantially different experience from existing government structures or truly foster innovation and decentralization in practice.