Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey MP has announced a £20m government investment into Liverpool's historic Littlewoods building on Edge Lane, a move its developer says will turn the project "from ambition to action".
The funding, revealed during the Chancellor's budget statement, will support the transformation of the long-vacant site into the Liverpool Creative Campus. Capital&Centric, the developer behind the project, began converting the site into a TV and film studio complex in December 2023 as part of a £70m project.
Transforming a Landmark Site
Two new 20,000 square foot studio stages are planned as the first structures to be constructed on the land. The existing building will be brought back to life and used alongside the new studios, as well as existing facilities at The Depot, which opened in 2021.
The investment from the Growth Mission Fund will support plans to restore and redevelop the building into a 260,000 sq ft creative production campus, subject to final business case approval. The funding is also associated with ScreenWorks Liverpool, a specialist post-16 education facility for up to 800 students.
Developer and Leaders Respond
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, described the government backing as a "huge vote of confidence" in the project. He 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."
Mr Healey said: "When I talk about unleashing Britain's innovation power, I mean in every part of Britain. That's why we reformed the Treasury's investment manual – The Green Book – so that we can invest in the potential of every town and city. That's what I do today [...including] £20m to restore Liverpool's Littlewoods building."
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, called it "a huge moment for Liverpool and the region and a major vote of confidence in the city's future." Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added that the 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."
Scrutiny and Next Steps
Cllr Kris Brown, the Liberal Democrat member who called in the decision to proceed with the scheme in 2021, described the funding as a "government bail out" and called for scrutiny of how the cash is used. He said: "We cannot afford any more false dawns. The developers must urgently get a main contractor on site, and the council must implement rigorous, transparent oversight."
Planning permission for the scheme was granted in 2024, with new wings expected to complete on site this year and the full scheme earmarked for a 2027 completion. The developers must now secure a main contractor and deliver the promised jobs, skills training, and studio spaces.
