Work starts in Wirral on new £8m logistics warehouse for photographic print specialist Max Spielmann. Tony McDonough reports
Work has started in Bromborough in Wirral on a 77,400 sq ft storage and distribution hub for photographic print specialist Max Spielman.
National family retail firm Timpson, which owns Max Spielmann, has hired construction firm Caddick to build the £8m facility in Power Road on Bromborough International Business Park.
Caddick’s appointment to the development follows planning permission by Wirral Council in April 2024. It marks the first time Caddick has worked on behalf of Timpson Group, bringing together the two family-owned northern businesses.
Max Spielmann is one of the UK’s best known high street photography printing chains and was founded in 1951. However, by the early 2000s the boom in digital photography saw the chain struggling to survive.
In 2008 it collapsed into administration only to be rescued by Timpson, known for its key-cutting shops and kiosks across the UK. Today, Max Spielmann offers photo printing and personalised gifts from more than 400 UK locations.
Timpson Group chairman, Sir John Timpson, joined Caddick on site at Power Road to see Caddick break ground on the development which covers a 9.5-acre site. It is set for completion in September 2025.
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Sir John said: “Im pleased that in Caddick we have formed an important partnership with another vibrant family business to deliver this development at Power Road.
“Exactly 16 years ago Timpson acquired the Max Spielman business, taking it out of administration, and since then it has developed a reputation for exceptional customer service and grown to become the UK’s leading photo service retailer.
“This new development on Power Road marks an important step in our plans to strengthen the Max Spielman business for its future growth, and it is great to have Caddick appointed as main contractor to help us achieve this.”
Dave Saville, regional managing director of Caddick Construction North West, added: “The new development at Power Road is a huge investment by Timpson Group and a statement of intent by the definitive leader in photo printing.”