A major creative production campus supporting hundreds of jobs is moving forward at Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods site after the Government pledged £20m towards the project.
The funding, announced through the Government’s Growth Mission Fund, marks a major milestone in plans to transform the landmark Littlewoods building into a nationally significant centre for film, TV, gaming, immersive technology and digital industries.
Subject to final business case approval, the investment will help unlock plans for a 260,000 sq ft development bringing together production studios, innovation space, education facilities and support services into a single creative campus.
This new funding unlocks the next phase of the project with work planned to start on site from Spring 2027 to install infrastructure and carry out initial works on the existing building.
The vision is for the Liverpool Creative Campus to become a powerhouse for creative production and technology, supporting around 630 permanent jobs and generating an estimated £56 million a year for the economy when fully operational.
Liverpool Creative Campus would build on a creative economy that is already a major driver of jobs and growth across the city region. More than 6,500 digital and creative businesses employ 51,000 people, with particular strengths in screen, music and gaming. Since 2019 alone, Liverpool Film Office has supported more than 1,600 productions, generating around £150m for the local economy.
The project will help Liverpool retain more of the jobs, investment, and economic value generated by existing businesses and the rapidly expanding creative sector.
The proposal also includes ScreenWorks Liverpool, a specialist post-16 education facility for up to 800 students, creating a centre of excellence in film and screen studies and a direct pathway from education to employment in the creative industries across the city region and Northwest.
Young people would study alongside working businesses and productions, with access to industry-standard facilities and clearer routes into apprenticeships, employment and enterprise.
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.
“For generations, the Littlewoods site was synonymous with jobs, opportunity and enterprise. We now have the chance to write a new chapter in that story and create a destination that brings together creativity, technology, innovation, skills and business growth.
“Most importantly, this is about creating opportunities for people. We want local residents to benefit from the jobs, careers, training and businesses that can grow from this investment.
“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.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “We’ve never been short of creative talent in our part of the world. From music and film to gaming and digital technology, we’ve got people and businesses doing incredible things – and I want to make sure more of the jobs and opportunities that come with that success stay right here in our region.
“Littlewoods is an iconic part of Liverpool’s history but we’d love to see it playing a part in our future too. This funding is a welcome step forward for a project with the potential to build on our strengths and create more good jobs and opportunities for local people.”
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, the developer behind Littlewoods, said: “Littlewoods has been part of Liverpool’s story for generations, and this is the moment Capital&Centric have been working towards for 10 years. This £20m is a huge vote of confidence and it moves us from ambition to action.
“Plenty of people have told us that we couldn’t save a building this big and this complicated, and that’s usually our cue to crack on. Taking on much-loved, tricky buildings is what we do. We’ve got eight live sites and have lots of heritage buildings behind us, and we’re bringing every bit of that to the Liverpool Creative Campus.
“Liverpool deserves something bold, and a creative campus that inspires young people into careers in film, TV and tech. With our partners, we’re going to deliver it.”
Jimmy Mulville, Hat Trick Productions Managing Director, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for Liverpool and the UK’s creative industries. The combination of state-of-the-art production facilities, innovation space and education provision under one roof has the potential to create something genuinely unique.
“Liverpool already has an outstanding reputation as a filming destination; the Liverpool Creative Campus will help take that success to the next level.
“Hat Trick has been proud to play a role in helping shape the vision for the Liverpool Creative Campus, and we believe the transformation of the iconic Littlewoods site can become a catalyst for a new generation of creative businesses, talent and productions. The Government’s support is a strong vote of confidence in Liverpool’s creative future and in the city’s potential to become one of the UK’s leading centres for screen production and innovation.”
Sam Auguste, Managing Director of Onomatopoeia Post, said: “As an independent post-production company based in Liverpool, we fully support the continued development of the Littlewoods Creative Campus and believe it has the potential to become a nationally significant hub for the creative industries.
“The vision for the campus reflects the way our industry is evolving, bringing together production, technology, research and business in a way that encourages collaboration, innovation and long-term growth. Developments like this are vital in helping creative businesses thrive while strengthening the wider regional ecosystem. We particularly value the campus’s commitment to supporting businesses, developing emerging talent and creating opportunities for people to build the skills needed for the future.”
Nick Howe CEO at the Uniform Group, said: “This has huge potential to become a major national hub for the creative industries, clearly aligning with UK growth and tech innovation goals. We love the vision and alignment to our own values and direction as a leading creative business in the city region, including the focus on boosting local talent development and driving business innovation.”
George Rule, Community Manager at Lucid Games Local, said: “The Liverpool Creative Campus project represents a fantastic opportunity to build on that innovation via cross-sector collaboration between different parts of the creative industry, which will drive growth, skills and innovation in the local area.
“Investment in the UK’s creative industries forms a key part of the government’s modern industrial strategy. We believe that projects like the Liverpool Creative Campus will help forge the path for the delivery of this strategy in the years to come.”
John Hughes, Managing Director, Adlib, said: “We welcome the vision for the Liverpool Creative Campus, particularly its commitment to fostering business innovation, supporting talent development and equipping individuals with both work-ready and future-ready skills. By bringing together industry, education, research and enterprise, the Campus has the potential to strengthen the creative economy, attract investment and create opportunities for businesses and communities alike.
“We believe the project represents an important investment in the future of the creative industries and will help reinforce the Liverpool City Region’s position as a leading hub for creative, digital and technological innovation.”
