Capital&Centric has submitted a new planning application to Liverpool City Council for the £70m Littlewoods television and film campus.
The developer has also released new CGI images of what the project will look like when it’s completed – including the restoration and repurposing of the 1930s Edge Lane building.
It’s working with Liverpool City Council as freeholder of the site and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as funder.
In addition to 2 new 20,000 sq.ft. studios for big budget productions, it includes office space, workshops, studio support facilities, an education facility and roof-top garden.
“From the Batman to Taylor Swift, Liverpool’s stellar reputation as having every ingredient to make shoots a possibility has drawn big stars and production companies here. The Littlewoods Project is all about doubling-down on the city being a compelling home for the sector, providing a missing piece of the jigsaw with more indoor studio space and vital support facilities,” explained John Moffat, Joint Managing Director of Capital&Centric.
“People have known for some time that the site is down to become a TV and film destination, but it’s a massive step forward to work up the detailed plans and show people what we’ve got in store for this iconic site. We listened to the feedback from our consultation and have made sure the Littlewoods Project won’t just be buzzing with those working in the creative industries, but will also open up to the community. We’ve done that with the lush gardens and the screening & performance space, where people will, for the first time in the site’s history, be able to visit and hang out.”
The community space includes repurposing a former canteen which was housed in a barrel-vaulted hangar, to become a multi-purpose screening and performance zone, which will be for the use of occupiers on site, and then open up to the public out of hours. It’ll feature 5 small format cinema screens, an outdoor performance space and permanent foodhall.
A courtyard will be open to the general public, with landscaping to pay homage to local screen stars past and present.
“The Liverpool City Region has a longstanding role as the country’s cultural capital and the development of the Littlewoods building is central to ensuring that we remain there. Establishing ourselves as an international hub for film and TV with world class facilities will be a really important string to our bow,” added Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region.
“We have become a magnet for film and TV productions from around the world in recent years – making us the UK’s most filmed location outside of London. But I want to take our region to the next level, to stake our claim as the ‘Hollywood of the North’.
“The £17m we’re investing into both Littlewoods and The Depot will be central in turning that ambition into a reality – helping us to cater for every stage of the production process and creating new jobs and training opportunities for local people.”
It’s anticipated that the Littlewoods development will create around 4000 full-time equivalent jobs in the region’s creative sector.
