Liverpool City Council has unveiled a new initiative designed to ensure the city’s thriving film and TV industry benefits the communities where filming takes place.
The Film Friendly Neighbourhoods scheme, led by the Liverpool Film Office, encourages productions shooting in residential areas to make a positive contribution to local good causes. Support can take the form of direct funding or community activities, helping to strengthen engagement, improve transparency, and deliver long-lasting social and economic value.
Funding can either be invested directly into neighbourhood projects or pooled into a central fund for larger improvements. The first community to benefit is Falkner Square, a popular filming location for productions including Peaky Blinders, Outlander and Tin Star. Following consultation with Cllr Nathalie Nicholas and the Film Office, contributions from productions have funded an accessible chess table, new signage, bins, and a community noticeboard.
Additional improvements in Falkner Square – including new lighting, fence repainting, drainage and paving – were made possible by combining Film Friendly Neighbourhoods donations with Section 106 and Local Neighbourhood Fund investment.
The Film Office has been developing the scheme for several years. So far, nearly £130,000 has been donated to charities and good causes across the Liverpool City Region. Where financial contributions aren’t possible, productions will instead be asked to support communities “in kind” – such as running school workshops or careers sessions to showcase the wide range of jobs in film and TV.
The initiative will be formally added to the Council’s Filming Code of Practice, which already sets out standards to ensure productions operate responsibly and minimise disruption for residents and businesses.
Liverpool continues to cement its reputation as the UK’s most filmed city outside of London. In 2024/25, 263 productions were shot across the region, generating 1,254 filming days, an economic impact of £34.8 million, and supporting more than 1,100 jobs.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:
“Liverpool’s screen industry is a huge asset to our city—not just economically, but culturally and socially. With the Film Friendly Neighbourhoods initiative, we’re making sure that the benefits of this booming sector are felt directly by the communities who host these productions.
“Whether it’s through funding for local improvements, educational opportunities for young people, or simply better communication and engagement – this is about creating a fairer, more inclusive model for how filming takes place in our city. We want residents to feel proud that their neighbourhoods are part of Liverpool’s global screen success—and to see real, lasting value from it.”
Councillor Nathalie Nicholas, Canning Ward Councillor, which Falkner Square forms part of, said:
“As the local ward councillor, it’s not only fair but incredibly rewarding to see how film production donations back to the community—when combined with Section 106 funding and Local Neighbourhood Fund —can deliver real, lasting improvements for our constituents and neighbourhoods.
“I’ve worked closely with residents to make sure the changes reflect what the community actually wants – whether it’s new paving, better lighting, or accessible public spaces. It’s about making sure the excitement of filming translates into meaningful benefits for the people who live here every day.”
For more information, visit the official Liverpool Film Office website.
READ MORE: UK’s first floating Padel Tennis Courts set to launch in Liverpool
