Darlington 'public sector hub' work due to start
Work is due to start on a "public sector hub" which will keep almost 400 government jobs in Darlington.
It follows an announcement in April that the Department for Education (DfE) would remain in the town, after fears it was pulling out because its Mowden Hall base was too costly to repair.
The council has now agreed to build an £8m office to accommodate the workers, to lease back to the DfE for 15 years.
It will form part of a larger development in the Feethams area.
The contract has been signed, and building is due to be complete by Christmas 2014.