The government has announced plans to launch a new Transport and Infrastructure Campus in the West Midlands.

The campus is intended to “bring together transport, property and housing infrastructure expertise from across multiple departments throughout the West Midlands” and will build on previously established government campuses, such as the Darlington Economic Campus, which has led to around 1,000 new high-skilled jobs.

The West Midlands region is already home to more than 35,000 civil servants. The location of the hub has not been announced.

Cabinet Office minister, Anna Turley, said: “The West Midlands is Britain’s transport heartland, and this new campus will harness that regional strength to accelerate the infrastructure projects that communities need.

“I am a firm believer that the best ideas often come from those on the frontline. By moving decision-making out of Whitehall and into the West Midlands, we are ensuring decisions are informed by local expertise and deliver real, tangible benefits for every part of the UK.”

The campus will bring together expertise from across the region from the Department for Transport, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Cabinet Office to accelerate infrastructure projects and support the investment of at least £725bn  in public infrastructure over the next decade under the National Infrastructure Strategy.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) will lead the development of the campus. They will appoint a senior civil servant, based in Birmingham, as the project director, where they will work with the local area and government departments to grow the campus and spread opportunity throughout the West Midlands.

By uniting departments around shared priorities and working alongside frontline workers and local government, the campus will drive national renewal, supporting the building of 1.5 million new homes and fast-tracking 150 major infrastructure projects.

Alongside the recent launch of a new management apprenticeship scheme based in Birmingham - it will allow people to move up through a civil service career right to the most senior levels, without ever having to move away from the West Midlands.

The West Midlands is already one of the largest hubs of civil servants outside of London, with over 35,000 professionals working across the region. Since March 2020, more than 3,200 roles have been relocated to the West Midlands through Places for Growth, including nearly 1,800 to Birmingham.

This announcement builds on the success of existing thematic campuses, such as the recently launched Digital and AI Innovation Campus in Manchester and the Energy Campus in Aberdeen.

The Places for Growth programme is about bringing the civil service closer to the communities it serves, with 34% of UK-based Senior Civil Servants now based outside of London, with the goal for 50% of UK-based Senior Civil Service and Fast Stream roles to be located outside of London by 2030.