Transformation of historic Wirral law courts gets underway
The disused court house at Wallasey stands shrouded in safety netting and scaffolding. Behind the scenes the landmark building is undergoing a sympathetic conversion which will preserve its past and its future.
M&Y Maintenance and Construction, a subsidiary of the Regenda Group, is busy transforming the historic courts into housing. In partnership with Wirral Council, the old building will soon become 21 new homes to be offered at affordable rents to local residents.
On a site visit, Cllr George Davies, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for housing and community safety, said he was delighted to see new life being breathed into the old building.
"This is a particularly exciting and significant development for Wirral Council. Not only will it see quality and affordable housing provided in an area where it is very much needed, it also sees one of our former buildings - one which is of historical and architectural significance - being sympathetically renovated, converted and brought back into use," he said.
The work is being carried out by St Helens-based M&Y which is now building on its reputation for housing repairs and maintenance and expanding into specialist refurbishments and new construction projects.
M&Y’s managing director, Gill Kelly said: “The building has played an interesting an important part in the lives of local people and we are preserving that heritage. The imposing exterior of the old court house, which dates back to 1900, is being repaired, restored and retained while the interior is being completely restyled into contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments. The end result will be a blend of the old and the new, a building restored to its former glory and with a new purpose.”
The work is expected to be completed by next spring.
