Work has started on the construction of two new office buildings in Birkenhead, funded by Canada Life Asset Management to the tune of £75m. Tony McDonough reports
Contractors have started work on two new office buildings in Birkenhead that will cost £75m and will provide 150,000 sq ft of space.
Comprising 90,000 sq ft and 60,000 sq ft, the larger of the two buildings will be occupied by Wirral Council staff with the second building being made available to the local market. The development is being brought forward by Wirral Growth Company, a joint venture between Wirral Council and Muse Developments.
Last October, in a major vote of confidence in the town, institutional global investor Canada Life Asset Management agreed to provide the £75m funding for the scheme. This week, another institutional investor, Pension Insurance Corporation, agreed to fund Peel L&P and Wirral Council’s £130m project to build 500 apartments at Wirral Waters.
Both office buildings are due for completion in in autumn 2023, with Morgan Sindall Construction named as the main contractor. They will be the first grade A office buildings built in the area since the Queensgate development in 2014.
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They form the central hub of a new business, residential and leisure quarter being developed in the heart of Birkenhead, which will enable the borough to attract further significant investment and create more opportunities for local people.
Once complete, the office buildings will be connected by new outdoor public realm and open, adaptable spaces for occupiers, residents and visitors to enjoy, as well as providing opportunities for events and pop-up activities stimulating the daytime and evening economy in the town centre.
Mike Horner, development director at Muse Developments and director of Wirral Growth Company, said: “Getting to this point is a profound moment for Wirral Growth Company and testament to the hard work of everyone involved.
“This marks an exciting new chapter in the Birkenhead story and will act as a catalyst to bring about real transformational change to benefit the people of Birkenhead and beyond. There’s a shortage of grade A office stock across the Liverpool city region and, despite changing working habits, there’s still demand out there.
“Businesses are choosing to prioritise quality in their workspaces and looking for offices that are more flexible and suited to modern working practices. By creating this offer in Birkenhead, it’s a statement of intent that we’re serious about helping the town to level up its commercial offer.”
In September 2021, Morgan Sindall Construction hosted the Wirral Getting Connected event at The Hive in Birkenhead, enabling local workers and companies to make valuable connections with Morgan Sindall Construction and its supply-chain partners.
Cllr Tony Jones, chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee at Wirral Council, added: “Building high-quality office space in the town centre will play a key role in changing the way that people use the town, which will benefit existing businesses and lead to new commercial opportunities.”