Developer Muse has handed over new office buildings to Wirral Growth Company totalling 150,000 sq ft and built at a cost of £75m. Tony McDonough reports
Developer Muse has completed two office buildings in the centre of Birkenhead and handed over the keys.
Wirral Growth Company, a 50:50 partnership between Wirral Council and Muse, started work on the two buildings in early 2022. Funded by Canada Life to the tune of £75m, the project comprises 147,767 sq ft of office space.
Wirral Council will occupy 65,447 sq ft of Building One, leaving part ground and the whole of the first floor available extending to 24,144 sq ft. Building Two comprises 58,176 sq ft of office space.
They will provide column-free floor plates from 12,500 to 19,400 sq ft and include air conditioning, metal tiled suspended ceiling and LED lighting. There will be floor to ceiling glazed elevations, showers and cycle hub facilities.
Steven Knowles, director of development management at Muse, said: “We’re creating real change in Birkenhead town centre through an innovative and ambitious masterplan.
“Phase one has been delivered, while phase two will see the creation of a vibrant new market hall for Birkenhead.
“Canada Life Asset Management’s inward investment into Wirral demonstrates the strength and potential of what we’re creating here and further cements our commitment to delivering a vibrant town centre.
Most importantly, the completion of phase one in this development signals the beginning of a new era of businesses coming together with well-designed workplaces that value the importance of well-being.”
Main contractor Morgan Sindall also enabled “significant social impact” through its employment and skills plan which saw multiple apprentices working on the project.
Cllr Paul Stuart, leader of Wirral Council, added: “Our partnership with Muse and Morgan Sindall, through the Wirral Growth Company, has already exceeded our ambitious targets against our employment and skills plan
“This has made a genuine difference to some of our most disadvantaged residents. Specifically, the support provided to our Children and Young People department should be held up as best practice.
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It’s essential that large scale regeneration projects are so much more than simply ‘bricks and mortar’ – there is much to celebrate with the achievements made here that I hope we can take forward to motivate and inspire others.”
Overbury – the UK’s leading fit out and refurbishment specialist – has been appointed via the Pagabo framework to provide a sustainable fit out solution for Wirral Council’s new office.
LBN reported in April that agents at CBRE had been tasked with finding tenants for the remaining office space.