Contractor sought to transform ex-Littlewoods building into “Hollywood of the North”
The search for a main contractor to deliver the transformation of the former Littlewoods building in Liverpool into a film and TV campus has begun.
Social impact developer Capital&Centric is part-way through enabling work on the Littlewoods Project, and is now looking to engage with contractors for the main restoration works, which include two new 20,000 sq ft studios for big budget productions.
Plans were submitted to Liverpool City Council last year which detail how the project will open up the site to the public for the first time. Features will include landscaped courtyard gardens, a roof terrace, a screening and performance zone, and a foodhall.
Capital&Centric is currently in discussions with a variety of operators interested in taking space at the site, with the vision to transform the 1930s buildings into the “Hollywood of the North”.
The group is working with Liverpool City Council as freeholder of the site and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as project funders. The Combined Authority, led by Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed up to £17m to the project.
John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “We know what Littlewoods means to people locally and the last few months have been spent carefully clearing out the buildings to get them ready for the main redevelopment work. We’ve made good progress so we’re now on the hunt for a contractor to lead the rest of the transformation.
“This is a huge opportunity to get involved in one of the most iconic projects in the North. When it’s finished Liverpool will have a world-class film and TV destination that will cement its place as the Hollywood of the North, creating jobs for decades to come.”
The planned new sound stages are expected to take around a year to be built and become operational, whilst the programme for repurposing the existing building is longer. This is due to the complexity of dealing with the existing structures, which are set to feature spaces for offices, workshops, studio support facilities, and an education facility.