Plans for a brand-new multi-million-pound Home Office base in Stoke-on-Trent have been scrapped.
As reported by Daily Focus and hailed as a ‘great investment for the city’, the government department had been in talks with Stoke-on-Trent City Council about building a brand-new base in the city which would house all of its Stoke-on-Trent workforce.
Instead, the Home Office has confirmed that it is looking to sign a long-term lease for existing office space in the city, in line with its firm commitment to remain in Stoke-on-Trent.
The announcement has come as a milestone of creating 500 government jobs in the city has been hit within two years.
City Council Leader Councillor Jane Ashworth said: “We are so pleased to see that the Home Office has hit its target of bringing 500 new jobs to the city in such a short space of time. This is a huge milestone for Stoke-on-Trent.
“We want to ensure our residents have access to good jobs with higher wages, so we are delighted that the Home Office has made this commitment to our city.”
The Home Office signed a lease for 38,000 sq ft of office space at the Two Smithfield building in the city centre in 2023, initially creating around 200 new jobs.
That number has since risen to more than 500 new jobs, which include roles that are pivotal in operational activity across the country, as well as corporate functions.
Cllr Ashworth added: “We will continue to work with the Home Office to ensure they can find a permanent home in the city.
“We will look at how we can potentially use existing or repurposed sites and do everything we can to ensure these new jobs remain in the city for the long-term.”
Minister of State, Lord David Hanson said: “We are committed to having a strong presence in Stoke-on-Trent and by fulfilling our commitment to bring more than 500 jobs to the city, we will ensure the region has a huge part to play in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the UK.
“Since taking office I have held constructive discussions with local partners in the region and I look forward to building on these relationships to explore how the Home Office can provide further opportunities to Stoke-on-Trent.”
