Hollywood of the North plan tops next Liverpool planning agenda

Manchester-based property developer, Capital&Centric, has applied to Liverpool City Council for full planning permission to refurbish the former Littlewoods Pools Building, on Edge Lane, in the Old Swan West Ward, and convert it into TV and film studios, already dubbed ‘The Hollywood of the North’.

The application for the £70m scheme includes leisure and food and drink floorspace of approximately 2,000 sq m.

Council officers have recommended that next week’s planning committee, on October 1, approve the application.

A cinema, alongside two bars with outdoor seating, is proposed to be erected in the hangar area between the east and west wings. The north sections of the east and west wings will be developed into commercial office space.

The Art Deco Littlewoods building was built in 1938 as headquarter of the John Moores football pools enterprise, but has been vacant since 1994. It is not listed but is a non-designated heritage asset.

In recommending the application, planning officer comments in the council notes say: “This ambitious project offers a comprehensive scheme, lead (sic) by a film studio development, that promises to rejuvenate a derelict and dilapidated building, and a vacant site identified for industrial/business development. 

“Subject to conditions, the proposal would raise no residential or environmental amenity concerns, would cause no detrimental impact upon the surrounding highway network or give rise to any highway safety issues, would provide the highest standard of accessibility.”

Meanwhile, the committee will also consider a bid to convert the upper floors of the city centre’s Cavern Walks Shopping Centre into a 283-room hotel complex.

Greenwood Developments and JSM are behind the proposal, which is recommended for approval by planning officers.

The committee originally unanimously approved a plan to develop a 150-room hotel on the Mathew Street site in April, 2023.

However, the plans are back before the committee with the aim of almost doubling the number of rooms, which involves a different internal configuration of hotel rooms.

The original scheme proposed large numbers of multi-bedded rooms, ranging from six beds to one bed within each room, to accommodate group as well as individuals/couples.

The latest plans focus on floors one to seven at the Cavern Quarter site, built over the original Cavern Club where the Beatles performed in the early 1960s.

Greenwood Developments and JSM bought Cavern Walks for £7m in 2022. They have agreed a deal to develop a Motto by Hilton hotel on the site.

Planning officers recommend approval for the updated scheme, saying: “It is considered that the principle of hotel accommodation is acceptable in this location is acceptable.

“The development will provide the building with a viable use that compliments the other Cavern Quarter businesses.

“Requirements for inclusive access have been met through revisions to the scheme and the alternative layout hereby proposed complies with inclusive design policy. The proposal is acceptable in terms of highways and amenity safeguards can be secured by the imposition of the recommended planning conditions.”