Just 10 weeks after completion, the first two of six apartment blocks in the £130m Millers Quay scheme in Wirral Waters are now at 80% occupancy. Tony McDonough reports
Just 10 weeks after completion the first two of six blocks in the Miller’s Quay development in Wirral Waters are at 80% occupancy.
Overlooking Birkenhead’s historic docklands, Miller’s Quay will eventually see 500 apartments offered for rent only, with 100 units classed as ‘affordable’, which means rents of no more than 80% of local market rates.
In January 2022 Wirral Waters owner Peel announced that institutional investor Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) was funding the Miller’s Quay scheme. Wirral Council is also a partner on the Build-to-Rent development.
In April the first two blocks, comprising 150 one and two-bedroom apartments were brought to market by letting agents JLL. It has received more than 2,000 enquiries and 800 requests to view, largely from the areas across Liverpool and Wirral.
Now 80% of the apartments are taken and JLL expects that to be at 100% by Christmas. The two blocks are called Copper Mill and Steam Yard. The remaining four blocks – Soda Factory, Salt House, Glaze Works and Lime Studio – are due to complete early in 2025.
John Coddington, head of residential for JLL, said: “This rapid lease-up is testament to the quality of the development by Peel Waters as well as the hard work of our team and the successful lease-up strategy.
“We are looking forward to welcoming more residents to Millers Quay and releasing phase two shortly.”
In September plans for a new Sainsbury’s Local store, adjacent to the blocks, was submitted to Wirral Council. It will be located on the corner of Dock Road and Duke Street.
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Richard Mawdsley, director of development for Wirral Waters, added: “Ever since construction began at Millers Quay, it has attracted a great deal of interest, because there is nothing else like it on the Wirral.
“It’s fantastic to see such high levels of interest from the local area and to see residents moving in and this new community starting to grow.
“We couldn’t have done this without the support and backing of Wirral Council, our funding partner Pension Insurance Corporation, construction firm GRAHAM, Wirral Met College, and Homes England.”