£70m Littlewoods TV and film studio due to move forward

A £70m TV and film complex at Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods building is set to be signed off for funding, enabling the start of work on site.Funding for the redevelopment scheme is due to be approved by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority this month.Despite the withdrawal of Liverpool John Moores University from the project, council chiefs and the developer said it would not impact implementation of the development.Adam Higgins, co-founder at Capital&Centric, said delivery of the project is “closer to happening than ever before”, with the Combined Authority “just days away” from the signing off the funding required for it to start on site.”We’re not doing the deal with LJMU as originally envisaged but we’re still in talks with them about being involved,” he added. “This doesn’t change the overall vision and there will still be an education provider whether the University are involved or not.”A spokesperson for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said it will be recommended to reconfirm its funding commitment, while the developer seeks new tenants for the development.”The redevelopment of the former Littlewoods Building aims to create an internationally significant, 260,000 sq ft film studio, commercial, creative employment, and educational space, which would enhance the City Region’s reputation in culture and creativity, generate jobs across a range of skills and provide opportunities for the City Region’s growing creative and digital cluster,” the spokesperson added.A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said talks have begun with other education partners to establish interest for when the scheme is ready to be brought forward.They added: “The withdrawal of LJMU from the Littlewoods scheme is regrettable but it makes no material difference to the planned remediation of the site, the funding for which is set to be approved this month.”The redevelopment scheme, which could create almost 4,000 jobs, had two proposed major anchor tenants – Twickenham Studios and LJMU.The arrangement would have provided a direct link between academia and industry in what would be the largest facility of its type in the UK.However, the university confirmed they will not be leasing space in the Littlewood project. Instead, it said it will “remain an active and close partner” and continue to invest in its existing city campus facilities.In a statement, it said: “Littlewoods is a remarkable project, and the university is fully supportive of the transformational potential it has the for film and TV industries in the city and the opportunities it will create.”Screen, creative, digital and media disciplines are an important part of our portfolio; to provide our digital and creative arts students with an exceptional university experience, we will continue to invest in our existing city campus facilities but will not be leasing space in the Littlewoods project.”We will remain an active and close partner, committed to working in partnership with the film office, the city, the combined authority and the film industry locally to support inclusive growth in this sector.”The project includes major studios, creative office and new media facilities, and seeks to transform Liverpool into one of Europe’s premier TV and film hubs.The former art-deco HQ of the Littlewoods empire has been vacant for decades and is in a state of severe dilapidation, including fire damage in 2018.