Littlewoods project moves forward as £20m backing unlocks next phase of Liverpool Creative Campus

Significant progress is underway at Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods site with plans to establish a large-scale creative production campus that will support hundreds of jobs. This development has received a boost following a £20 million funding commitment from the Government’s Growth Mission Fund. This investment marks an important step forward in the transformation of the historic Littlewoods building into a major national hub for film, television, gaming, immersive technologies, and other digital industries.

Pending final approval of the business case, the funding will enable the creation of a 260,000 square foot facility designed to integrate production studios, innovation spaces, and educational services. The site aims to unite various elements such as support services and learning environments into one comprehensive creative campus. Construction is expected to commence in spring 2027, focusing initially on upgrading infrastructure and refurbishing parts of the existing structure.

Liverpool Creative Campus aspires to become a powerhouse within the creative and technological sectors, potentially sustaining approximately 630 permanent jobs and contributing an estimated £56 million annually to the local economy upon full operation. This initiative builds on Liverpool’s already thriving creative economy, which includes over 6,500 digital and creative companies employing about 51,000 people. The city is recognized for its strengths in screen media, music, and gaming. Since 2019, the Liverpool Film Office alone has facilitated more than 1,600 productions, driving roughly £150 million into the local economy. The project aims to retain more employment, investment, and economic benefits generated by the flourishing creative industry in the region.

A key feature of the development is ScreenWorks Liverpool, an advanced post-16 education facility expected to accommodate up to 800 students specializing in film and screen studies. This initiative intends to create a direct pipeline from education to employment, allowing young people to study alongside active businesses and productions, gain access to industry-standard resources, and have clearer pathways into apprenticeships, jobs, and entrepreneurship within the creative sectors of Liverpool and the broader Northwest region.

Local leaders and industry figures have welcomed the announcement enthusiastically. Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, described the funding as a “huge moment for Liverpool and the region and a major vote of confidence in the city’s future.” He emphasized the opportunity to rekindle the area’s historic reputation for jobs and innovation through this new creative hub. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, highlighted the region’s abundant creative talent and the potential for the revamped Littlewoods site to support more local jobs and business opportunities in the future. Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, the organization behind the redevelopment, expressed confidence in overcoming challenges related to restoring the building and delivering a bold new creative campus to inspire younger generations into careers in film, TV, and technology.

Industry leaders also voiced strong support. Jimmy Mulville, Managing Director of Hat Trick Productions, noted the campus’s potential to unite top-tier production facilities, innovation, and education, elevating Liverpool’s already strong reputation as a filming destination. Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Post highlighted the campus’s alignment with the evolving creative industry landscape, praising its focus on collaboration, innovation, and nurturing talent. Nick Howe, CEO of the Uniform Group, emphasized the project’s alignment with national aims for growth and technology innovation while supporting local talent and business development. George Rule of Lucid Games Local described the campus as a key opportunity to stimulate cross-sector collaboration and economic growth aligned with government industrial strategies. John Hughes, Managing Director at Adlib, underscored the campus’s role in fostering innovation, talent, and investment, reinforcing Liverpool’s position as a leading center for creative and digital technologies.

Together, these perspectives underline the Liverpool Creative Campus as a transformative project poised to catalyze economic growth, skills development, and industry innovation in the city and beyond

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