00:00The former Littlewoods building in Liverpool could become a centre for film, television, gaming and digital technology after the government
00:10pledged £20 million towards the project.
00:14The money comes from the Growth Mission Fund, but the investment is still subject to approval of a final business
00:21case.
00:22If approved, it would help move plans for the Liverpool Creative Campus into the next phase.
00:27It's a great thing, but don't be hoodwinked. £20 million is a starter. It gets momentum. It needs to be
00:35completed properly.
00:36Because we have a lot of film shots shot here because of the architecture, don't we? So, you're great.
00:43I'm strongly supportive of that project. My son, Adam, he's developing into a career in film production as location, well,
00:52eventually manager.
00:53And he actually planned his course. They said when he finished his course, it would be the filming studio in
01:00Littlewoods.
01:01The proposed development would cover 260,000 square feet, bringing production studios, innovation space, education facilities and support services together
01:12on one site.
01:13Work is planned to begin in spring 2027 with infrastructure, installation and initial work on the existing building.
01:21The ambition is to create around 630 permanent jobs and generate an estimated £56 million a year for the economy
01:31once the campus is fully operational.
01:33Well, we have the best Victorian streets. Stale Street is the best preserved Victorian street because we're not that old.
01:40We didn't have anything there in Tudor times, you know, yeah.
01:44And it's a big thing. There's a lot of filming around Liverpool at the moment, but there's no actual decent
01:49studio and they need it crying out for it.
01:52And if you do, the actual film industry will tend to be more focused around Liverpool.
01:57Because then they come and film their films here and then they'll edit them and they'll process them there, you
02:03know. Yeah, no, I think it's a great thing.
02:05I've heard they need £100 million, of which £20 million is as a start. It's helpful. As is ever, it
02:11should have been completed two, three years ago.
02:14It's good for the city, basically. It's going to bring employment and different things, hotels, bars, restaurants, they're all going
02:22to benefit from it when it opens.
02:24I agree with him.
02:25But as long as it keeps its momentum, I think very strongly, I think that's something that generates a lot
02:32of interest, enjoyment to Liverpool, people coming to Liverpool appreciating it and eventually jobs as well.
02:41Since 2019, the Liverpool Film Office says it supported more than 1,600 productions, generating around £150 million for the
02:50local economy.
02:51The campus could also help local companies collaborate, share expertise and develop new projects together.
