A BRADFORD MP has accused the Government of breaking levelling-up promises over HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pulling out of the city.

In November 2015, HMRC announced its Centenary Court site, close to Forster Square rail station, would close in 2020-21, with Bradford staff, including those from other sites, moving to its new Leeds Regional Centre. 

But in March 2020, it emerged the office would be kept open as a ‘Transitional Site’ until 2027 to help meet its future needs and accommodate a larger workforce than previously forecasted in 2015.

After that announcement, and in light of the Government’s levelling-up drive and an increased workload due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bradford East MP Imran Hussain wrote to HMRC’s chief executive calling for the agency to commit to a permanent presence in Bradford beyond 2027.

Despite Mr Hussain’s calls, HMRC’s director of estates and locations programme confirmed plans for the Centenary Court office remain “unchanged” but roles would continue to be “available and attractive” to people in the district.

In his letter, Colin Cassé wrote: “As you are aware, changing demand meant that we decided to retain Bradford Centenary Court as a transitional site until 2027, when colleagues based there will move to Leeds Regional Centre.

“While we will continue to ensure our locations plans support HMRC’s and Government’s future needs, our plans for Bradford remain unchanged.

“Keeping as many of our skilled and experienced workforce as possible is important to us. When the time comes for the office to close, everyone will have the opportunity of a one-to-one meeting with their manager to discuss individual circumstances and to determine how we can best support them to move to their new office.”

Mr Cassé said HMRC is moving towards a mix of home and office working to provide “greater flexibility” over where people work.

He said: “This will provide greater flexibility over where people will work in the future, giving most colleagues the opportunity to work from home for at least two days a week, or more where the role allows.

“In addition, anyone who cannot move will be offered additional flexibility up to full- time homeworking. We expect this will enable most of our workforce to continue to develop their careers with HMRC.

“I recognise that this is not the news that you were hoping for, but hope it reassures you that HMRC’s skilled, high-quality roles will continue to be available and attractive to your constituents.”

Mr Hussain hit out over the closure news.

He said: “At the last election this Government committed to a programme of investment into left behind regions like Bradford, with plans to move public sector jobs out of London and into the rest of the country, yet once again, it feels like Bradford is being deliberately overlooked and ignored by Ministers.

“If the Government really was serious about levelling up and if they wanted this policy to be more than just a soundbite, they would act to keep the HMRC office and the good, skilled jobs that it provides in Bradford, but as it stands, they’re just guilty of once more breaking their promises of levelling up.”

A HMRC spokesperson said: “Centenary Court is one of HMRC’s Transitional Sites and will remain open until 2027 when colleagues based there will move to Leeds Regional Centre.

“We have always been clear that we want to retain as many of our employees as possible and we expect most of our workforce to continue to develop their careers with HMRC and that our skilled and high-quality roles will continue to be available and attractive to the people of Bradford.”