The UK government has launched a reform plan that mandates Whitehall departments to develop strategies for relocating thousands of civil servants from London to other regions of the country.

This initiative is part of the government's spending review process, wherein departments must delineate their relocation plans to secure funding from the Treasury.

Currently, approximately one in five civil servants, equating to around 100,000 individuals, are employed in London.

In contrast, about 70,000 civil servants are based in the north-west of England.

The total number of full-time civil servants within central government stands at 513,000, marking a significant increase from a recorded low of about 380,000 in 2016.

The proposed relocation strategy aims to connect government policy development more closely with the local communities impacted by these policies.

The government estimates that this initiative could yield over £700 million in economic benefits for towns and cities such as Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Bristol by the year 2030.

Originally announced by former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in 2020 under the 'Places for Growth' initiative, the plan aims to transfer 22,000 civil service roles outside of the capital as part of a broader 'levelling up' agenda.

Following this development, the Labour Party has incorporated the scheme into its proposals to reform the civil service, advocating for reductions of more than 10,000 positions amidst concerns regarding the civil service's size and effectiveness following its expansion during Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden will intensify this initiative by notifying all Whitehall departments that their funding allocations in June are conditional upon the submission of these relocation plans.

Alongside the spending review, the government will also release its inaugural strategic workforce plan for the civil service, assessing the current structure of Whitehall and its suitability for modern governance.

A government source stated, "We’re keen to go further to enhance the impact of government in places across the country, so that the civil service has an active presence in communities across the UK and contributes to local growth and job creation." This approach is intended to ensure that civil servants working in regional offices outside of London engage more closely with frontline services, facilitating a deeper understanding of local issues and how central government policies can address them.

Further measures included in the reform plan involve implementing performance-related pay for senior civil service staff and enhancing performance management across the board, with provisions for expedited exits for underperforming employees.

Civil servants assigned to regional offices will be expected to maintain a minimum of three days a week in the office, ensuring continuous engagement with their local service environments.