Wirral triggers Mallory and Irvine fit-outs

Architect Corstorphine & Wright will lead a design team to map out the remaining space at the new-build Birkenhead blocks, after a £600,000 contract was signed off by the council.

Place understands that a further contract for the delivery of fit-out works will be awarded towards the end of this year.

At 2 and 4 Alice Ker Square, the Mallory and Irvine buildings were forward-funded by Canada Life Asset Management and delivered in 2023, with Wirral Council moving into part of Mallory in 2024 after a reported £9.2m fit-out. Wirral is committed to a long-term head lease on both buildings.

Wirral has now stated that “new tenants are now expected to move in”. CBRE is the council’s agent, and has reported one occupier expressing interest in two floors of the Irvine Building, and another looking at two or three floors of Mallory. Terms for the potential Irvine tenant were agreed by the chief executive in March.

In order to accommodate incoming tenants, the council will be prepared to work around any situation and occupy space in both Mallory and Irvine buildings, giving up some of the already occupiable space.

The local authority said that “as the fit-out specification is likely to be very similar to the original fit out for the council, and much of that specification be re-used, it has been decided to appoint Corstorphine and Wright Architects to carry out the work as they did the initial fit-out”.

This programme of works has a contract price of £604,687.50 plus VAT and is required to be completed by the end of September 2027.

Both buildings have four upper floors of offices with ground floor commercial spaces. There is 78,616 sq ft of office space at Mallory, with three of the four floors occupied. Irvine offers 50,020 sq ft of workspace.

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paula Basnett, said: “This is a strong vote of confidence in Birkenhead and its future. Mallory and Irvine are high-quality office buildings in the heart of the town centre, and bringing more people to work here will help increase footfall and support local shops and businesses.

“By making the most of these assets, we are not only helping to strengthen the town centre economy but also generating income that can be reinvested into the frontline services that residents rely on. This is exactly the kind of practical action that helps us support local businesses, make better use of council assets and drive Birkenhead’s ongoing renewal.”

A report authored by manager of assets and surveying Steven McMorran outlined how CWA has put together a team comprising project manager IMB, quantity surveyor Expedite Project Services, M&E sub-contractor Couch Perry Wilkes, and civil and structural engineer SBK. CWA’s fees would amount to around £215,000, the M&E work around £177,000, PM £114,000 and QS just short of £100,000.

The report said: “The commercial sub-letting of the Birkenhead Commercial District (BCD) is part of the rationale behind the development of these assets, generating footfall, vibrancy and other benefits.

“Letting the assets will bring in income which the Council needs to support the rent it needs to pay for the assets. Fitting out the assets is an essential step in enabling them to be fully let.”