Work begins on new creative hub in Birkenhead after Town Deal investment

A vacant office building in Birkenhead is being transformed in to a dynamic home for up to 100 ‘makers’ and artists after Town Deal investment. The new creative hub will be a major boost to the town’s expanding creative scene.

The project will see Make CIC, who provide studio space across Liverpool City Region, move from their current Wirral home in the Treasury Building at Hamilton Square, which is a base for 50 people, to a larger 15,000 square foot building on Argyle Street with room for more than 100 makers. 

The four storey building, which was previously headquarters of Riverside Housing and has been vacant for six years, will also have meeting rooms, conference and events spaces, a gallery, café and community radio station. 

Argyle Street Creative Hub is just one of a series of Town Deal projects taking place in Birkenhead after Wirral Council secured £25 million of Town Deal funding. These include Start Yard, Joy project, The Waterfront Animation & Connectivity Project, Education Engagement Network, Future Yard and Sustainability Central.

Work is underway on the Creative Hub and is expected to be finished in summer 2024. Future plans include a roof garden and transforming a nearby car park on Lorn Street in to a community growing and social space. 

Make CIC was founded in 2012 by a group of Wirral based creatives including Liam Kelly and Kirsten Little, with the aim of helping people ‘turn their passion in to prosperity’. As well as being home to a wide range of makers in Wirral, ranging from artists and sculptors to photographers and fashion designers, they also offer studio space in Liverpool and Huyton.

Chief Executive of Make CIC Liam Kelly said: “A big part of the regeneration of Birkenhead is about bringing more creativity and cultural experience to the town. And a big part of that is providing permanent workspace for that to happen”.

“Make Hamilton 2.0 will give access to facilities for more people in Wirral, who need a space to work, develop their practice, or somewhere to just be creative. We work hard to ensure that space is affordable and flexible, all the things people need when starting out, growing or doing their hobby”.

Identified as a growth area for start-ups and home to many of the town’s creative businesses, the area around Argyle Street is fast-emerging as a creative quarter in Birkenhead. 

Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee, Cllr Tony Jones, said: “The £25 million Town Deal funding Wirral Council secured is helping boost Birkenhead’s cultural ambitions and revitalising the town. It’s wonderful that in a year in which Wirral is once again recognised as the Borough of Culture, we can support and encourage creative talent through developments like this”.

“Not only will these projects help Birkenhead’s renaissance, they will boost our local community, organisations and businesses.”

If you work in the creative field and are looking for a place to work, or just be creative, visit Make CIC's website for more information.