New figures show that 24,621 Civil Service roles have moved outside London under the Places for Growth programme, exceeding its 22,000 target three years early, the Cabinet Office said on 30 October 2026. More than two thirds of new full-time Civil Service positions were created in regional locations, and four in five civil servants are based outside London, according to the release.

The department also reported that 36.6% of UK-based Senior Civil Servants were based outside London as of March 2026, part of an effort to move half of the senior leadership into regions and nations. Cabinet Office Minister Mark Ferguson said the government was shifting power and decision-making to local communities so that policy makers reflect the country and understand how decisions affect the places they serve.

The release links the programme to wider devolution plans, including seconding high-performing civil servants into mayoral authorities and a Fast Stream pilot in Yorkshire and Humber. It also cites the creation of No.10 North, which it says brings departments together behind a shared mission to devolve power and unlock growth.