Liverpool’s Littlewoods eyed by Broadwick
The cultural operator behind Printworks London is understood to be in advanced talks to pre-let the 260,000 sq ft film and media hub, currently being developed by Capital&Centric.
Broadwick Group is made up of four companies: the venue-focussed Broadwick Spaces, the event-centric Broadwick Live, the collaborative-leaning Broadwick Partnerships, and the delivery engine Broadwick Developments. The company secured a significant investment from American gaming power player Rockstar Games in 2022 to support an expanding portfolio.
In the North West, Broadwick runs New Century Hall and Depot Mayfield. Further South, it is behind Control Room A at Battersea Power Station and Churchill Place.
It is understood that Broadwick is not the only operator considering setting up shop at Littlewoods, with a number of global companies expressing their interest in the site. No deal has been signed one way or another, Place has been informed.
Littlewoods, which sits off Edge Lane, is a key part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s ambitions to turn the Merseyside city into the Hollywood of the North.
The historic Liverpool complex is undergoing a large-scale refurbishment, with plans for two additional 20,000 sq ft film studios to be built next door to the 1930s structure.
Capital&Centric aims to turn Littlewoods into a mixture of offices, workshops, education facilities, performance spaces, multi-purpose screening rooms, and a food hall – with a roof garden thrown in for good measure.
The developer estimates that Littlewoods will generate £200m a year for the local economy when it completes, creating 4,000 jobs in the process.
Plans drawn up by architect ShedKM were submitted in November for the project, with support from planner Avison Young and landscape architect Planit. Remediation work on the site began last winter.
While Capital&Centric co-founder Tim Heatley kept mum regarding any possible deal with Broadwick or anyone else, he did say that he was “excited about the interest the project has received from potential tenants and occupiers”.
He added: “The vision is coming together thanks to the help of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayor Steve Rotheram and Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson and their teams.”
Broadwick was approached for comment.
To learn more about the Littlewoods project, search application reference number 23F/2887 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
