Capital&Centric kickstarts consultation on long-awaited £70m Littlewoods
Work is anticipated to start this summer to prepare the 275,000 sq ft art deco building off Edge Lane in Liverpool for its transformation into a hub for the film and TV industry, years after advanced discussions began.
Capital&Centric is working in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council on the scheme to repurpose the vacant Littlewoods site to create studio spaces, workshops, and a public performance zone.
The developer is asking for public feedback on the proposals in a consultation running until 17 July, which can be accessed at thelittlewoodsproject.com.
Capital&Centric’s vision would see space created in the building’s existing west wing to accommodate offices, an education facility, hotel rooms, or residential apartments for the TV and film crews, while the east wing could welcome workshops or studios.
A screening and performance zone would be created within the hangar, a 1960s extension to the building, to feature four cinema screens, a performance space, and a food hall .
Plans also include the delivery of two 20,000 sq ft new-build studios on site.
LCRCA has committed £17m to the £70m project, including £8m for remediation, design, and planning.
Built in 1938, the building has sat empty for decades. The site was formerly home to the Littlewoods Pools before playing a key role in World War Two, manufacturing a variety of items for the war effort including five million parachutes.
John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “Thousands have been through the building’s doors in its former guises, whether as the home of the pools or as a monumental manufacturing hub during World War Two.
“We want to produce a worthy sequel to that incredible origin story, helping the site to be re-born as a new UK focal point for TV and film production”, he continued.
Twickenham Studios is already signed on to be a tenant at the film campus and will take around 84,000 sq ft.
Liverpool John Moores University had originally been set to take 75,000 sq ft at Littlewoods once the project completes. The institution ultimately decided not to take this space in order to focus on investing in the university’s existing real estate.
Just waiting on those spades in the ground… Really hope this does come to fruition. Such a shot in the arm for the area and and incredible building back into use.
By L17
If this happens it’s a massive game changer, wonder if Lord Bernstein has moved things along, it will bring some good jobs and kudos to the area.
Can we now get the Cruise Terminal up and running too it’s a no brainer, at the moment liners are in almost each day. Meanwhile Greenock have just opened their terminal and it looks great.
By Anonymous
Fantastic news
By Anonymous
Good to see progress on this, disappointed though that a consultation process is taking place. Haven’t they taken long enough to get started on this, who is the consultation taking place with local residents whose knowledge of the film industry must surely be superior to the investors and who might object because any investment frightens them usually at the prompting of a budding councillor or community leader?
I say get on with it and stop procrastinating.
By Liverpolitis
YEARS after…but I think Sir Paul McCartney has taken a recent interest also.
By Eric
Why can’t these big developers pay all their own costs and why do the councils bend over backwards to spend ratepayers funds on another potential white elephant. Someone from government should look at all of these schemes given so much aid!
By Bernie
Very exciting, looking forward to see this project progress
By Jules
Great to see this once upon a time beautiful art deco building being restored
Good luck to all involved
By Anonymous
Should be another great scheme from C&C but for once I’d like them to risk some of their cash and jointly fund a project- all the reward but no risk!
By JB
Hollypool! 😂
By Bernard Fender