The UK government has pledged £20m to redevelop Liverpool's derelict Littlewoods building into a film and television production campus.
The funding, announced in this week’s budget, will come from the government's Growth Mission Fund.
The boost comes two years after Liverpool City Council approved a planning application for the scheme, which has been designed for developer Capital & Centric.
The project would convert the Grade II-listed Art Deco landmark into a 260,000ft2 creative campus featuring two 20,000ft2 studios for large-scale productions along with office space, workshops, studio support facilities, and an education centre.
It is unclear whether the money will be enough to meet the project's funding needs. Steve Rotheram, Mayor, Liverpool City Region, previously sought £50m in government support. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has previously committed up to £17m towards the scheme.
Plans to turn Littlewoods building into a film and television complex have been discussed since 2017 but have faced repeated delays.
Liverpool City Council said the new investment would support the wider redevelopment of the site, known as the Liverpool Creative Campus.
Once fully operational, the Liverpool Creative Campus is expected to support approximately 630 permanent jobs and generate an estimated £56m annually for the economy.
The Growth Mission Fund was set up to invest £240m between 2026-27 and 2029-30 in schemes designed to boost job creation and the economic regeneration of local communities.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “This is a huge moment for Liverpool and the region and a major vote of confidence in the city’s future… There is still work to do and further funding to secure, but this government backing gives us real momentum and brings us significantly closer to delivering our vision for the Liverpool Creative Campus.”
The Littlewoods film studio project was recently debated at the Creative Cities Convention in Liverpool, UK, where visitors also heard the first speech from Channel 4’s new CEO and strategies to strengthen working-class voices. Discover more here.
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