Mayor seeks government backing for film studios

17 hours ago

Mairead Smyth,North West Tonightand

Jenny Coleman,North West

News image — There are plans to transform the Littlewoods building on Edge Lane in Liverpool

Font Comms A CGI image of how the development could look, showing two large white buildings and two large studio grey and yellow studio blocks. — There are plans to transform the Littlewoods building on Edge Lane in Liverpool

The future of the former Littlewoods building in Liverpool could become clearer within weeks as the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region is set to meet with government ministers in a push for investment.

Plans to transform the site into a TV and film studio complex have been on the agenda since 2017 but the project has been hit by a series of delays.

Earlier this year Steve Rotheram admitted there was a "viability gap" for the project and he now wants the government to invest £50m into the scheme.

Rotheram, other city region leaders and the Liverpool Film Office are due to meet with ministers on 3 March.

PA Media Head and shoulders image of Steve Rotheram, against a black background, looking to the right. He is wearing a blue suit and pale blue open-neck shirt. — Steve Rotheram says the site has potential "to be the Hollywood of the North"

He said he was "desperate" to get the project "off the ground" but "doesn't have a magic money tree".

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has so far committed up to £17m.

"We are hoping to persuade the government that if they were to invest in the Littlewoods Building we could turn it into the Hollywood of the North," Rotheram said.

"It would be able to give them a return on that investment because by retaining more of those post-production facilities in the UK, that helps the treasury as well, so the exchequer would grow."

A report published this week by the Liverpool Film Office showed the impact of the film and TV industry on the Liverpool City Region over the past five years.

BBC/Left Bank Pictures Key cast members shown against sunlit backdrop of Liverpool's waterfront including the Liver Building. They are Julie Graham who plays Elaine Phelan, Jack McMullen who plays Jamie Phelan, Sean Bean who plays Ronnie Phelan, James Nelson-Joyce who plays Michael Kavanagh, and Hannah Onslow who plays Diana Williams. — Gangland thriller This City is Ours won praise from viewers and TV critics

Figures revealed £150m had been generated for the local economy, 5,408 direct and indirect full-time jobs have been created, and 1,607 productions have been facilitated across the Liverpool City Region.

Liverpool is now the UK's most filmed area outside London and films including The Batman, Clayface, and BAFTA-winning dramas Time, and The Responder are among 1,607 productions which have taken place over the last five years.

TV dramas This City is Ours, The Responder and Time are among 10 supported productions which have received 19 industry awards, including four BAFTAs and two International Emmys, and added £24.5m to the city region economy, creating 861 indirect full time equivalent jobs and 56 trainee roles.

Out In Liverpool Film crew are stood outside Liverpool Crown Court which is being used as a film set. A red sign across the front of the building says Emergency Entrance in white capital letters. A large amount of film crew are gathered as filming takes place with actors stood on the steps. — Actor Eddie Marsan (centre on steps) was spotted during filming outside Liverpool Crown Court for the recent Clayface movie

Lynn Saunders has blonde hair and is wearing a black jumper, a black jacket and a high visibility orange vest and white hard hat. — Lynn Saunders said the range of city region locations is "unique"

Lynn Saunders, head of Liverpool Film Office said the impact was being felt across all five boroughs of the Liverpool city region.

"Every single borough has seen an increase in production, and there are hubs springing up everywhere," she said.

"The locations are stunning, they're diverse and the communities really welcome filmmakers which is why we have so much filming taking place here.

"Heath in Halton, Alexandra Business Park in St. Helens, Pensby High School in the Wirral, they've all seen repeat production come back time and time again.

"We have a commitment to economic regeneration, skills development, community engagement, and sustainable growth, with plans to further elevate Liverpool's role in the UK's screen industry," she said.

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