The application to transform the Littlewoods Building off Edge Lane in Liverpool into the ‘Hollywood of the North’ has been recommended for approval subject to a section 106 agreement by Liverpool Council.
Developer Capital&Centric will lead the £70m redevelopment of the 260,000 sq ft building into a new film studio complex including two sound stages, each measuring approximately 20,400 sq ft with a height of 17m alongside ancillary office, studio, and workshop spaces.
A cinema, alongside two bars with outdoor seating, will be erected in the hangar area between the east and west wings, with a façade restoration, window replacements and the demolition of Littlewoods Clock Tower.
The Littlewoods building was erected in 1938 and has been vacant since 1994. The north sections of the east and west wings will be developed into commercial office space and a replacement of the fire-damaged clock tower is planned.
The plans will now go before Liverpool’s planning committee next week. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has already committed up to £17m to develop the site.