Andy Burnham's flagship No 10 North will begin operating on Monday – the very first day of his premiership, the Manchester Evening News understands. The new Prime Minister will waste little time in delivering one of his defining campaign pledges, with part of his team set to begin working from the northern headquarters from the moment he enters office.
Interim Base and Permanent Plans
An interim base will be used while a permanent home is developed, with the long-term headquarters not expected to be completed until 2028. The location of the temporary base has not yet been disclosed for security reasons. Multiple sources have cited Heron House in Manchester city centre as a possible location. The building, close to the Town Hall, is currently occupied by GCHQ. Another option that has been touted is the new ‘Manchester Digital Campus’ at the home of the former Toys ‘R’ Us retail store in Ancoats.
Whitehall of the North
In March, Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the green light for the plans at the former Central Retail Park, which will see 8,800 civil servants be based at the site, which has been dubbed the ‘Whitehall of the North’. The proposals for a No 10 North operation were designed to drive devolution and economic growth, while working alongside – rather than duplicating – the functions of Downing Street. Sources close to Burnham have stressed the move is not just about shifting power to the north, but pushing it out of Westminster to all corners of the country.
Burnham's Vision and Schedule
Mr Burnham first unveiled plans for No 10 North during a speech in Manchester last month as part of what he described as a "radical rewiring" of the British state. He is expected to split his time between Westminster and a new hub in Greater Manchester. Under the plans, the prime minister-in-waiting expects to work from a proposed No 10 North in Greater Manchester at least one day a week. Sources close to Mr Burnham say he will expect ministers to follow his lead and spend less time in Westminster. Last week, Mr Burnham received the expected nominations from at least 80 percent of Labour MPs to become the next Prime Minister.
