LMA to invest £15m in Metquarter campus
Liverpool media, music and performing arts institution LMA, which is co-owned by singer Robbie Williams, has revealed plans to take 50,000 sq ft in the Metquarter for studios and teaching space.
LMA said it plans to invest more than £15m in the new 130,000 sq ft site, driven by what the organisation described as “a surge” in applications from prospective students.
Based across two campuses in Liverpool at Hope Street and Duke Street, LMA offers post-age 16 BTEC qualifications and post-age 18 degree courses, in music, musical theatre, dance, acting, film and TV production, and games art and animation.
The third campus would include film studios, dance studios, music rehearsal rooms, classrooms and recording studios. The scheme is due to open this September.
The campus is part of LMA’s wider expansion plans, which also includes a site due to open in London later this year. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park studio will be LMA’s first outside of Liverpool.
Brothers and co-founders Richard and Simon Wallace set up LMA in 2008. Former Take That singer Robbie Williams became a co-owner of the business in 2019.
Richard Wallace said: “We’ve been working for some time to find the perfect location in the city centre that would house our world class facilities for students and staff, and Metquarter is absolutely ideal for us.
“Not only is it right in the heart of the city centre, but the building itself gives us a lot of freedom to create an extremely unique learning space where our students can study and hone their craft.
“There is a lot of potential for what we can do at the site to help inspire students and give them opportunities to explore their passion and creativity, whether that’s on stage or screen, behind the camera, in the recording studio or creating the next big gaming sensation.”
The refurbishment of the Metquarter on Whitehall has been led by asset manager Queensberry and owner Bywater Properties over the past two years, and has welcomed occupiers including Everyman Cinema, Cricket, and Kids Cavern.
There are plans for a food and drink market to take space in the mixed-use centre.
