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Reconstruction of an architectural icon is in full swing. The clock tower of the Littlewoods building in Liverpool is being torn down, but developers plan to reconstruct it.
The restored tower will preside over the Littlefields Project - a new film and entertainment hub, complete with studio space, offices, screening rooms and education facilities.
Littlewoods is located on Edge Lane, just east of the city centre, and is famous for its art deco architecture.
Built in 1938, the building served as the headquarters of the Littlewoods football pools until closing in 1994. It remained empty until 2018, when it suffered serious fire damage, before being purchased by property developers Capital&Centric (C&C).
Their redevelopment fits into Mayor Steve Rotheram's wider vision to transform Liverpool into ‘the Hollywood of the North’. At the moment, it's the UK's second most filmed city outside of London.
Besides production space to rent, the site will have a roof terrace and garden open to the public.
C&C are working in partnership with Liverpool council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, who have committed a total of £17 million to fund the project.
Remediation teams started work last December. Their review of the tower’s structural integrity found that it was highly vulnerable to collapse.
‘We are entering a critical phase of the restoration, as we peel back the layers of the building following decades of it sitting empty,’ said C&C’s joint managing director John Moffat. ‘Our priorities are keeping everyone safe and saving what we can of the buildings.’
All going well, the project will be completed by 2026. In which case, there’ll be no need to sail across the Atlantic for a world-class movie studio experience.
For more news from the north, read our guide to the best things to do in Liverpool
Plus, this UK city was named one of the world’s top dining destinations
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