Egerton House Town Deal refurbishment to attract new businesses to the area

02 November 2022

Joel Roderick and James Kearns from 16A Architecture outside Egerton House

A key business property in Birkenhead docks is in line for a £1.48m facelift as part of the latest Town Deal project - a move that will double the number of spaces for local companies to use.

The work on the west wing of Egerton House, overseen by local firm 16A Architecture, will see office space increased from 5000 to 7,500 square feet, taking the total to 42,500 square feet.

Egerton House, which opened in 1874 and was formerly a banana warehouse, is one of Wirral Chamber’s flagship business properties and currently home to 25 small and medium-sized enterprises, ranging from digital, technology and structural engineering businesses, to training companies, accountants and lawyers. Refurbishments, which start in November 2022 and are expected to be completed in August 2023, will see this number increase to 50 SMEs.

The refurbishment is just one of a series of exciting projects in Birkenhead after Wirral Council secured £25 million from the Government.

Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee, Cllr Tony Jones, said: “With its location in the heart of the docklands, Egerton House has been a driving force for Wirral’s economy in bygone eras, so it’s fitting that it’s now a thriving business hub that will promote economic growth and help create jobs. This refurbishment will give even more businesses the opportunity to enjoy all of the benefits of being in such a prime location”.

As well as utilising co-working spaces at Egerton House, the businesses can access Wirral Chamber’s Business Start Programme and Business Acceleration Support Scheme (Port City Innovation Hub).

Refurbishments will increase the number of businesses at Egerton House while preserving the building's history

Work for the project will be carried out by 16A Architecture, who are based at another of Wirral Chamber’s office spaces, Pacific Road.

Director of 16A Architecture Joel Roderick said: “Collaborating with the Wirral Chamber of Commerce, we came up with designs to completely transform the west side of the building, while preserving its memory. It’s wonderful to be involved in a project to give part of such a beautiful old building a new lease of life and turn it in to space where budding businesses can collaborate, network and develop.”

16A Architecture formed in July 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic.

“My business partner James Kearns and I have worked at large firms in Manchester, Liverpool and London” continued Joe, “but during the first summer of COVID we were sat around the kitchen table and decided to start our own business. Jobs snowballed through word of mouth and we managed to turn a bad situation during a period of uncertainty, in to a good one for ourselves. Being a tenant of Wirral Chamber’s Pacific Road business centre was not only an ideal location, it provided us with one of our biggest projects to date.

“We were born and raised in Wirral and we’re passionate about the place we live, so we could not be happier. Given the new developments of Wirral Waters and the exciting masterplans, we feel we are in the right place to have a say in the future of this town”.

The refurbishment is just one of a series of Town Deal projects taking place in Birkenhead after Wirral Council received £25 million from the Government. Other projects include the Transport Shed, Start Yard, The Waterfront Animation & Connectivity Project, Education Engagement Network, Joy project, Future Yard, Sustainability Central and The Argyle Street Creative Hub.