Littlewoods Film & Food Fest announced as people given chance to have their say on famous Edge Lane landmark

The team behind plans to turn the former Littlewoods building into a Hollywood-ready destination for TV and film are calling on locals to have their say on the restoration. 

Developers Capital&Centric have revealed more details about their plans for the iconic 1930s Littlewoods building on Edge Lane which include new studio spaces, workspaces, and workshops for the industry, alongside a screening and performance zone that’s open to the public.

They’ve launched a month-long consultation on the £70million repurposing of the whole site, as well as revealing plans for the Littlewoods Film & Food Fest next month – a one-off charity event in the neighbouring The Depot on Saturday, July 15.  

Capital&Centric are working in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council, as the landowner, with work to clean up the building and prepare the site for development now set to start this summer.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has committed £17m to develop The Depot – two 22,000 sq ft film and TV studios now open off Liverpool’s Edge Lane – and larger studios in the adjacent Littlewoods building as part of its vision to turn the city region into the ‘Hollywood of the North’.

Kick-starting the consultation, Capital&Centric have unveiled more about what’s in store as they draw-up a planning application.

The existing building features three distinct sections – the east and west wings, which are separated by the Hangar, a 1960s add-on. The plans include: 

• The existing buildings to feature spaces such as offices, options for hotel rooms/accommodation for crew, an education facility, roof terrace with city views, as well as workshops and studio support facilities
• Two new build 20,000 sq ft studios on the site, adjacent to the existing buildings, providing space for big budget productions to film
• A screening and performance zone set within the existing hangar and open to the public. It will feature four cinema screens, a performance space, and a food hall

Capital&Centric are also proposing a green courtyard for the community, with a link through to the neighbouring Botanic Gardens.

To celebrate, Capital&Centric are opening The Depot – Liverpool Film Office’s sound stages that neighbour the Littlewoods site – to the public for the first time ever.

They’re staging The Littlewoods Film & Food Fest on Saturday, July 15 July, a family-friendly festival that will bring the giant sound stages to life with film screenings, local food stalls, drinks, mini golf, face-painting and a DJ, with two sessions to choose from:

The Day Sesh: Family fun with all of the above and a screening of ‘Matilda The Musical’. (Doors open at 12pm with the screening at 1pm).

The Evening Sesh: Again, all the festival events along with the screening of ‘The Batman’ starring Robert Pattinson that was filmed in Liverpool. For this, doors open at 6pm for the screening at 7pm.

Tickets are £5 including popcorn, with proceeds from ticket sales going to Unity Youth and Community Centre. You can book tickets at www.thelittlewoodsproject.com 

John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, says: “Thousands have been through the building’s doors in its former guises, whether as the home of the Pools or as a monumental manufacturing hub during World War II. We want to produce a worthy sequel to that incredible origin story, helping the site to be re-born as a new UK focal point for TV and film production. 

“We’re now working up the plans in detail and the consultation is an opportunity for people to have their say on what we’ve got in store. As well as the Hollywood-standard studio building, workshops and offices, we want to make sure The Littlewoods Project embraces the surrounding community. That’s why we’re planning to incorporate loads of creative spaces, such as an educational facility, a screening space and a food hall that’ll be open to the public, and lush, landscaped areas where people can unwind.”

He adds: “The upcoming Littlewoods Film & Food Fest will be a real celebration of how far the city has come in establishing itself as a British success story when it comes to international production.

“We hope people head down for a great time with their mates and family, and help raise money for a worthy local cause.” 

How to have your say on The Littlewoods Project:

Capital&Centric’s consultation on The Littlewoods Project is now open and runs until Monday, July 17.  

• There’s a consultation drop-in event on Thursday, June 29 from 3pm to 8pm, at Bunker, Innovation Boulevard, Liverpool L7 9PW, where visitors can meet the team and have their say on what’s planned.
• People can also submit their comments online to submit their comments online or contact the project team.
• You can also email Littlewoods@capitalandcentric.com, or call the team on 0800 689 1095.

To have your say on The Littlewoods Project click here.