Liverpool film campus receives £20m Budget pledge
Funding would help restore the former Littlewoods site, subject to a final business case.
The Government has pledged £20m towards transforming Liverpool’s former Littlewoods building into a creative campus for film, television, gaming and digital production. The money is conditional on approval of a final business case.
The funding comes from the Government’s Growth Mission Fund and is intended to support restoration and redevelopment of the long-derelict site. The planned campus would cover about 260,000 square feet and combine production studios with offices, education space and facilities for digital industries.
The proposal includes two large sound stages and other production and support facilities. Liverpool City Council and regional partners have promoted the project as a way to attract productions, strengthen local skills and retain more creative-sector work in the North West.
The site has faced delays and viability concerns. Earlier plans received planning approval, but the funding announcement does not itself authorise construction or guarantee that the complete project budget has been secured.
The Government said the investment is part of a wider regional growth programme. According to the Government, the Budget also included funding for other regeneration and creative-industry projects, but the Littlewoods pledge is specifically tied to the Liverpool campus.
The funding remains subject to approval of a final business case. The pledge alone does not guarantee that the campus will be completed.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Government has pledged £20m for the project.
- The planned campus would include film, television, gaming and digital facilities.
- The funding is conditional on a final business case.
Left
Arguments Regional creative infrastructure can spread cultural and economic opportunity beyond London, but public money should come with secure jobs, training and public accountability.
Values Regional equality, workers’ rights and public investment.
Consequences Supporters fear that without enforceable benefits the subsidy could mainly support developers and large productions.
Centre
Arguments A conditional grant can unlock private investment if the business case is robust and the project has clear delivery milestones.
Values Practical regeneration, evidence and shared risk.
Consequences The project could strengthen Liverpool’s production base, but delays would leave public money tied to an unfinished site.
Right
Arguments Creative growth is best supported by removing barriers and attracting private capital rather than relying on recurring state subsidy.
Values Enterprise, market discipline and limited public spending.
Consequences A successful campus could create jobs, but taxpayers should not carry the risk of an unviable scheme.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The funding and conditional nature of the project are directly supported by official sources. The article avoids claiming that construction or job creation is guaranteed.
- confirmed The Government pledged £20m from the Growth Mission Fund. — Listed in the Budget document. source
- confirmed The planned campus is about 260,000 square feet. — Stated in the Budget document and Liverpool material. source
- confirmed The funding is subject to a final business case. — Confirmed in the Government and council descriptions. source
Editor's note
The £20m pledge, project scope and conditional status are confirmed by Government and Liverpool sources. Construction and final viability remain unresolved.Sources
- Budget 2026 HTML — UK Government
- Littlewoods project moves forward as £20m backing unlocks next phase — Liverpool Express
More on this in other media
- The Independent — „film television”
- BBC News — „film television”
- The Guardian — „film television”