Plans to transform Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods Building into a major creative production campus have taken a significant step forward after the Government pledged £20 million towards the ambitious development.
The funding, announced through the Government’s Growth Mission Fund, will support plans to turn the historic site into a nationally significant centre for film, television, gaming, immersive technology and digital industries.
Subject to final business case approval, the investment will help unlock a 260,000 sq ft Liverpool Creative Campus, bringing together production studios, innovation spaces, education facilities and specialist support services.
Initial work is expected to begin in spring 2027, with the next phase focusing on installing essential infrastructure and carrying out preliminary works on the existing building.
Liverpool Creative Campus Could Create 630 Jobs
Once fully operational, the Liverpool Creative Campus is expected to support approximately 630 permanent jobs and generate an estimated £56 million annually for the economy.
The development aims to strengthen Liverpool’s position as a major destination for creative production and digital innovation, while helping the city retain more of the investment, employment opportunities and economic benefits generated by its growing creative industries.
The project will also provide opportunities for businesses working across film, television, gaming and emerging technologies to collaborate within a dedicated creative environment.
By bringing production facilities, technology businesses and educational opportunities together, the campus aims to establish a sustainable ecosystem supporting the next generation of creative talent.
Historic Littlewoods Building to Become Creative Industries Hub
The transformation of the landmark Littlewoods Building represents a major opportunity to bring one of Liverpool’s most recognisable historic sites back into productive use.
The proposed development will combine modern production facilities with specialist spaces designed to support innovation, education and business growth.
The £20 million Government funding represents an important milestone for the project, helping to progress plans for the site while supporting Liverpool’s wider ambitions to expand its creative economy.
With initial works scheduled to begin in spring 2027, the investment could pave the way for the next chapter in the building’s history.
Liverpool’s Growing Film and Digital Economy
The Liverpool Creative Campus will build on the city region’s established reputation as a centre for film, television, music and digital innovation.
Across the Liverpool City Region, more than 6,500 digital and creative businesses employ approximately 51,000 people, making the sector a significant contributor to the regional economy.
Liverpool has also become an increasingly popular filming destination, attracting major productions and supporting employment across the screen industries.
Since 2019, Liverpool Film Office has supported more than 1,600 productions, generating approximately £150 million for the local economy.
The new creative campus is intended to build on this success by providing additional infrastructure and facilities, allowing more production activity and associated economic benefits to remain within the city.
It will also create opportunities for existing businesses to expand while attracting further investment into Liverpool’s creative sector.
ScreenWorks Liverpool to Offer Education for 800 Students
A central element of the proposals is ScreenWorks Liverpool, a specialist post-16 education facility designed to accommodate up to 800 students.
The proposed education centre will focus on film and screen studies, creating opportunities for young people to develop the practical skills and experience needed to pursue careers in the creative industries.
Students would study alongside established businesses and working productions, gaining access to industry-standard facilities and real-world learning opportunities.
The aim is to create clearer pathways from education into apprenticeships, employment and enterprise across Liverpool City Region and the wider North West.
By connecting education directly with industry, ScreenWorks Liverpool could help address skills needs while supporting the development of a new generation of filmmakers, production specialists and digital creatives.
Major Investment in Liverpool’s Creative Future
The proposed Liverpool Creative Campus forms part of wider efforts to strengthen the city’s creative industries and establish Liverpool as a leading destination for film, television and digital production.
The development would combine employment opportunities, specialist education and modern production facilities within one major creative hub.
With £20 million in Government funding now pledged, subject to final business case approval, attention will turn to the next stage of the project and the planned commencement of initial works in spring 2027.
If delivered as proposed, the transformation of the Littlewoods Building could provide a significant boost to Liverpool’s creative economy, creating hundreds of jobs and bringing new life to one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
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.”
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.”
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.”
