- Make CIC relocates to a permanent home on Argyle Street, Birkenhead, marking
a major milestone in its development. - Former Riverside Housing HQ transformed into a creative hub with funding from
the Town Deal, part of a £25m Birkenhead regeneration project. - New space will be the centrepiece of the ‘Argyle Street Creative Hub’, supporting
the local creative and cultural sectors. - Make Hamilton, a temporary initiative launched in 2017, demonstrated the
demand for affordable creative spaces, leading to this permanent solution. - Building underwent a full renovation by local contractors Kimpton, creating
studios, open-plan workspaces, a café, a bar, and event spaces. - Relocation doubled the available space, offering more opportunities for
Wirral-based creatives. - CEO Liam Kelly emphasised Make CIC’s long-term commitment to fostering
creativity and supporting local artists. - Current residents, including artists and social enterprises, have moved into the
new space. - Resident Hannah Gerrard from Rexy Studio expressed excitement about the
expanded facilities and permanent home. - Cutting-edge gigabit connectivity provided for free by Britannia IT as part of LCR
Connect’s social value programme. - The new hub offers a permanent space for artists to grow and collaborate, with
facilities available for hire.
Make CIC has announced its relocation to a newly renovated, permanent home on Argyle Street, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s journey. The transformation of the former Riverside Housing HQ into a vibrant creative hub was made possible from funding via Town Deal, which will see up to £25m invested in the regeneration of Birkenhead. The new building will become the centrepiece of what’s called the ‘Argyle Street Creative Hub’, which will support the creative and cultural sector in Birkenhead.
In April 2017, the Festival of Ideas in Birkenhead inspired a vision that led to the creation of Make Hamilton. During the event, Make CIC recognised the community’s need for affordable and accessible space for creatives, makers, and like-minded individuals to work, collaborate, and socialise. In partnership with Wirral Council, Make CIC launched a “living viability study” by repurposing the recently vacated Treasury Annexe Building in Hamilton Square. Over the past five years Make Hamilton demonstrated that a temporary initiative can successfully pave the way for a permanent solution. Supported by funders, partners, and the community, Make CIC has now purchased and refurbished a new space, cementing its long-term commitment to fostering creativity and collaboration in Birkenhead.
The building underwent a complete strip-out before being expertly fitted out by local contractors, Kimpton. The fit-out included renovating and creating new rooms to provide studio spaces with updated electrics, painting, and partitions. The first two floors now feature open-plan workspaces for artists, makers, and creatives, along with private studio spaces. An inviting new reception area with a café space and bar has also been built, alongside a versatile room for workshops, meetings, and events, which is available for hire.
Many of Make’s current residents, including artists, jewellery makers, fashion designers, and fellow social enterprises, have already moved into the new building. This relocation has doubled the available space, providing even more opportunities for Wirral-based creatives to join this dynamic community.
Liam Kelly, CEO of Make said:
“Make has always been about fostering creativity and providing a space where artists and makers can thrive. Our new permanent home on Argyle Street not only expands our capacity but also strengthens our commitment to the creative community. This move ensures that we can continue to support and nurture talent for years to come.”
One of Make’s residents, Hannah Gerrard from Rexy Studio, shared their excitement about the move:
“As a resident of Make Hamilton, the new space on Argyle Street feels like a game-changer for local creatives. I now have the space to grow my craft away from home and really focus on expanding my work. Being part of a community of fellow makers and creatives is incredibly inspiring—it’s a place where we can all share ideas and collaborate. The expanded facilities and permanent home mean we can thrive without the uncertainty of temporary spaces, and it’s exciting to be part of a supportive environment.”
The new building has cutting-edge gigabit connectivity too, installed by local supplier Britannia IT. The connection has been supplied for free, as part of the social value programme of LCR Connect – the half-publicly owned ultrafast network available to businesses across the Liverpool City Region.
Dave Ferry, Chief Commercial Officer at LCR Connect, said:
“Make CIC is such a great example of a local organisation making a difference in their community. This hotbed of creativity needs cutting-edge connectivity – we’re really pleased that LCR Connect has been able to help by providing a free connection.”
The opening of this new facility is a positive development for the local creative community, offering a permanent hub where artists can develop their craft and grow their businesses. For more information, visit www.makecic.org.