The National Infrastructure Commission has welcomed UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement that the Commission will open a new office in Leeds by the end of 2023.

The new office in Yorkshire will form the base for around 40% of the Commission’s secretariat in the future, with others continuing to work from a base in London.

The move is part of is part of the government’s commitment to move 22,000 civil service positions out of London and the South East by 2030.

National Infrastructure Commission chair John Armitt said: “It’s great to be establishing a second base in Leeds.

“It is not only a great city to live and work in, but the move underlines the Commission’s role in advising government on the role infrastructure can play in boosting local economies and improving quality of life right across the UK.

“We look forward to continuing to work with local leaders as the Commission starts work on our next major assessment of the country’s infrastructure needs for the future, to be published in 2023.”

As an independent executive agency of HM Treasury, the Commission liaises with government on property arrangements and certain other central services, while retaining complete discretion to determine its own work programme and policy recommendations.