The first of 550 new Home Office jobs are expected to arrive in Stoke-on-Trent early next year, the government has confirmed.
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced in May that more than 500 government jobs will be created in the city over the next five years as part of a drive to move hundreds of civil service posts out of the capital.
Most of the new jobs will be within the Home Office's asylum operations directorate or the new Immigration Caseworking Innovation Centre which will also open in the Potteries.
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Now Cabinet Office minister Lord Angew has revealed that a 'landing party' of around 60 civil servants will be in place in Stoke-on-Trent by March 2022, StokeonTrentLive reports.
That figure will increase to around 180 jobs by April 2023, with the rest of the roles in place by 2025.
Lord Agnew announced the timetable for the Stoke-on-Trent move in a letter to the city's three MPs.
The letter said: "The publication of the Declaration of Government Reform on June 15 set out how the government will look beyond London to all corners of the UK, for a Civil Service that is representative of the communities we serve.
"More civil servants, including senior leaders, will work outside of the capital, joining the many dedicated front line staff already based in towns and cities across the UK.
"The Places for Growth Portfolio is at the heart of that ambition and my officials are working closely with departments and arm's length bodies to successfully deliver this agenda.
"A formal programme has been established to scale-up Home Office presence in Stoke, starting with a 'Landing Party' of circa 60 new roles in place by March 2022. The Home Office footprint will further increase to around 180 by April 2023, with a full complement of staff in place by 2025.
"As you will know, on May 19 the Home Office announced that it will be establishing a new location in Stoke. This will see an additional c.550 civil servants located in Stoke by 2025 as part of this government's ambition to ensure the administration of government is less London-centric, with local voices being taken into account when making policy.
"Home Office officials visited Stoke-on-Trent on July 6. Since then, work has been progressing on a more detailed review of the available property options with a decision expected shortly. The Home Secretary enjoyed her recent visit to Stoke on July 31 and continues to be committed to making swift progress on plans in this area."
Government officials are considering a number of potential sites for the Home Office jobs, including Swift House, which is set to undergo a multi-million redevelopment.
