Work starts to transform Littlewoods Building into film and TV campus
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has committed up to £17m to the project
Last updated 12th Dec 2023
Work has started on site to transform the former Littlewoods Building in Liverpool 'into a world-class film and TV campus.'
Developers Capital & Centric are working with Liverpool City Council as freeholder of the site and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as funders.
A remediation team has started a comprehensive strip out of the buildings and securing their structural integrity to prepare them for repurposing and restoration.
The first phase of work is expected to run until the summer of 2024 to pave the way for the main contractors to move in, with two new 20,000sq.ft studios for big budget promotions the first to be constructed on neighbouring land.
John Moffat, Joint Managing Director of Capital & Centric, said:
"Whilst Liverpool is the UK’s most filmed location outside London, the city needs to keep upping the ante. Not only will The Littlewoods Project draw in productions, it will unlock opportunities in the creative sectors for locals for years to come. Having submitted detailed plans to Liverpool City Council last month, getting started on site is a major moment and the beginning of realising shared ambitions for the Littlewoods Project.
"There’s loads to be done before the main restoration can get going. The next six months will see an intensive period of remediation activity inside the iconic building, which will then pave the way for construction of the new build studios and Littlewoods’ re-birth as a cultural destination that Liverpool can rightly proud of."
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has committed up to £17m to develop The Depot - two film and TV studios now open off Edge Lane and managed by Liverpool Film Office - and larger studios in the adjacent Littlewoods building as part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s vision to turn the city region into the ‘Hollywood of the North’.
Mayor Steve Rotherham said:
"The past few years have seen our area become a backdrop to some of the biggest film and TV productions on our screens. It’s safe to say that we’re building an enviable reputation as the most filmed location outside of London – but I’m never content with resting on our laurels.
"The £17m we’ve invested into Littlewoods and The Depot will ensure that our area can continue to cater for every stage of the production process and attract the thousands of jobs and training opportunities it will bring with it.
"Today takes us one massive step closer to turning that vision into reality and staking our claim as the Hollywood of the North and I can’t wait to see this development start to take shape."
The planned new sound stages will take around a year to be built and become operational.
The programme for repurposing the existing building will be longer because of the complexity of dealing with the existing structures which are set to feature spaces for offices, workshops, studio support facilities and an education facility.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:
"The remediation of the Littlewoods Building is a watershed moment for Liverpool’s TV and film industry. It marks the end of all the talking about the vision for this iconic site and the beginning of the action to make the dream a reality.
"Today is like going from script readings to first day of shooting. The excitement and anticipation of what’s to come is palpable. Yes, there’s some hurdles still to clear, but we know what the ending looks like and how to get there.
"I can’t wait for the day it opens and people get inside to start making their own film-making dreams come true and showcasing Liverpool’s phenomenal ability to make magic happen on screen."
A planning application was submitted last month, with Liverpool City Council set to determine the plans in early 2024.