Darlington BC is building a new office for the Department for Education (DfE), following a campaign to keep 400 civil service jobs within the borough.

The DfE had planned to move to new premises outside of Darlington because existing premises were deemed inadequate. But following a lobbying effort which involved the council, local press and constituency MP, education officials will now relocate to the new purpose-built offices adjoining the town hall by the end of 2014.