Peel Ports unveils £12m Birkenhead Docks industrial ambition

Working alongside manufacturer Finsa UK, Peel Ports Group will construct a logistics space on 6.5 acres in West Float.

The new industrial site at Birkenhead Docks will act as a headquarters for Finsa, which specialises in transforming wood into a variety of products including flooring and decorative services.

Fletcher-Rae Architects is designing 160,000 sq ft warehouse part of the building, while Waugh Thistleton Architects is in charge of the 6,000 sq ft office and showroom part.

Subject to planning approval, work will begin in the “very near future”, according to a press release from Peel. The release also said work would expect to complete within three years.

“Finsa UK has been a greatly valued customer of Peel Ports for more than three decades, and we are thrilled to help support the next phase of their business growth at such an exciting time for the company,” said Andrew Martin, group land and property director at Peel Ports.

“This project will create contemporary, high-specification logistics space that will support their ambitious expansion plans and drive international investment in the local area,” Martin continued.

“A special thanks to the team for their support with this scheme, as well their commitment to investing in Birkenhead and its residents. We look forward to working with the team in partnership for many years.”

Cllr Tony Jones, chair of Wirral Council’s economy, regeneration and housing committee, praised the plans for the industrial site.

“This is an exciting time for the borough and Wirral Waters is one of the key sites in the Left Bank which is seeing real progress in the massive programme of regeneration we have underway,” Jones said.

“Finsa UK is a much-valued company which has been based in and investing in Wirral for several decades and I’m pleased to see them make this commitment to remaining in the borough, and particularly within the freeport area,” he continued.

“Subject to their proposed development obtaining the necessary permissions I look forward to Finsa being in Wirral for many more years to come.”

West Float at Birkenhead Docks is part of Peel L&P and Wirral Council’s £4.5bn Wirral Waters, a regeneration programme for 500 acres of former docklands.

Wirral Waters has had a busy past few months, with the first Wirral Waters office completing in December last year.

In February, Graham Construction landed the contract to build the £130m Wirral Waters One residential scheme, which calls for the construction of 500 homes.

Peel submitted plans for the 70,000 sq ft Marine, Energy and Automotive Park at Wirral Waters in April.

Caddick Construction began work on Belong’s 34-home care village in May.

Last month, Peel L&P submitted its plans for a £25m Maritime Knowledge Hub in the Four Bridges quarter of East Float.

That same month, Peel announced plans for 1,815 apartments in East Float. The developer also said it would take control of the delivery of 347 homes in East Float that initially had been promised by House by Urban Splash, which entered administration in May.