A blockbuster filming complex set to transform the historic Littlewoods Building, creating nearly 4,000 new jobs, is to open in 2021.
The former home to Littlewoods pools had been derelict for years until it was purchased by the City Council and subsequently sold to Capital and Centric property developers in 2017.
A September 2018 fire threatened to halt the process but the developer has revealed a dramatic renovation of the iconic building is expected to begin by the end of this year.
John Moffatt, director at Capital and Centric gave last night’s Regeneration and Sustainability Committee an update about their plans to build two 20,000 sq ft sound stages, 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and a 15,000 sq ft events hub including a 150 seat screening room, which will be open to the public in the evenings.
The committee heard that the new film and TV hub, which has already signed up the world famous Twickenham Studios as a tenant, would create an annual economic impact of £199 million, revolutionising Liverpool’s celebrated film sector which currently generates £16m a year.
Capital and Centric hope many of the new jobs will go to local people and as a result, the company plans to involve education services to ensure there are enough locals with the required skills to work at the facility.
The city has previously been used as the set of Hollywood films including Captain America and Fast and Furious 6, and the new development will provide facilities for production as well as filming.
In 2018 366 different film and TV projects were filmed in the Liverpool region and there was an average of 4 projects filming in the area every day.
Mr Moffatt added: “The development will make Liverpool a world leading city in the film industry.”
Mayor Joe Anderson said: “We’re talking about bringing the world’s film industry to us. They’re already here for Liverpool’s amazing exterior locations, but Littlewoods will give them a one-stop home for interior filming.”
