Liverpool submits plans for first pop-up film studios
A planning application has been submitted to create purpose built film and high-end TV stages in Liverpool as part of a strategy to bolster the city’s position as one of Europe’s premier film and TV hubs.
CGI of what Liverpool City Region’s Littlewoods Studio could look like.
Liverpool City Council proposes to build two 20,000 sq ft studios on land adjacent to the famous Littlewoods Building.
The planning application is subject to a public consultation but if approved the council expects to start on site in November 2020 and the sound stages to be operational by spring 2021.
In July this year, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved £17m to support the new film and TV stages, along with the Littlewood Film and TV studios.
A report will also be submitted to the council’s cabinet next month seeking approval to appoint contractors to construct the facilities.
The Littlewoods Film and TV Studios also this week announced Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) as its educational partner and has already signed up the historic Twickenham Studios as its anchor tenants.
Joe Anderson, mayor of Liverpool, said: “These two pop-up sound stages adjacent to the future Littlewoods Film Studios will ensure co-location to the best new facilities in the UK and transform Liverpool’s ability to provide the TV and Film industry with a more all-round package, enabling us to attract a more diverse range of productions which will in turn will create more jobs.
“Having such illustrious partners like Twickenham and LJMU means we will also have all the right ingredients to create a ‘Hollywood of the North’ for training, production content and talent in Liverpool.”
Steve Rotheram, metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: “These new facilities and the wider Littlewoods Studios development will mean that we are able to offer the full package to productions, from providing stunning filming backdrops to the more technical editing and recording work.
“This scheme has the potential to be a real game-changer for the entire region, building a ‘Hollywood of the North’ that will attract jobs and productions from around the world to the area, as well as providing local people with world-class training and job opportunities.”
For more information about Liverpool City Region’s film industry visit liverpoolfilmoffice.tv