Littlewoods Studios | Former Littlewoods Building | Edge Lane | 300,000 sq. ft. Film Production Complex | Approved

Another gem of a building, some years ago when Littlewoods left the site there was a report in the paper that this could be some kind of film making centre with studios, workshops, production facilities, all that kind of stuff. It would certainly be big enough, but Colin McKeown opened up his film center in Sandhills so I suppose this idea is a dead duck. Dave any pictures of this beauty??

A developer with flair and imagination, this can only be Urban Splash, just check out their CV, Matchworks is fantastic.

Doug Roberts said:

Another gem of a building, some years ago when Littlewoods left the site there was a report in the paper that this could be some kind of film making centre with studios, workshops, production facilities, all that kind of stuff. It would certainly be big enough, but Colin McKeown opened up his film center in Sandhills so I suppose this idea is a dead duck. Dave any pictures of this beauty??

A developer with flair and imagination, this can only be Urban Splash, just check out their CV, Matchworks is fantastic.

Click to expand...

What about Mccleans then. :hahaha: :cheers:

Doug Roberts said:

Dave any pictures of this beauty??

Click to expand...

Doug, here's a few taken from the Cathedral. The two taken in 2003 still show the Littlewoods brand name, but it's gone by 2004.
I've taken a few close ups of the building last year, but still searching.

February 2003


August 2003


April 2004

Development plans for the iconic old Littlewoods building on Edge Lane have been unveiled.

The iconic art deco Littlewoods building in Edge Lane is to get a new lease of life as an apartment complex with a hotel and retail space attached.


I don't suppose it's anything new but here's the story off the BBC Liverpool website.
more here.

Art deco icon looking up Nov 4 2005
By Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

THIS is the first picture of how Liverpool's art deco Littlewoods building will look after a £48m rebuild.

It includes a sparkling new glass structure on top of the white building's clock tower, overlooking the city centre.

The landmark structure's west wing will be converted by developer Urban Splash into apartments, aimed at young first and second-time buyers.

The more rundown east wing will be demolished to make way for a hotel, offices, bars and public square, linked to Liverpool science park.

However, the iconic "bookend" frontage will be kept and restored to its former glory.

It is hoped the refurbished building will be ready to throw open its doors during 2008.

Bill Maynard, director of Urban Splash, said: "We have followed the fortunes of the Littlewoods building for 10 years.

"It is a magnificent building with an enormous presence on the brow of a hill and great views across the city.

"The west wing, which overlooks the botanic park, is still a fabulous building, but the east wing is much poorer quality and single-storey.

"We will keep the shell of the west wing and convert it into apartments.

"We will keep the two bookends, but we will redevelop behind the eastern one with a new hotel, offices and more apartments.

"It will bring life to the area and we see it as a 'digital village' where young professionals can live and start small businesses."

The use of the new glass floor on the clock tower - to be named the Sky Tower - has yet to be decided.

Mr Maynard added: "It could be a bar, restaurant, communal living space or apartments, but at the very least it will add a bit of sparkle."

The building was constructed in 1938 by John and Cecil Moores to house their pools business, and was a classic example of the art deco "ocean liner" style.

Antiques dealer Wayne Colquhoun launched an unsuccessful attempt to have it listed two years ago, which would have limited how it could be developed.

He said: "I had hoped to see a more ambitious idea than apartments. If we are not careful, the whole of Liverpool will be flats, hotels and bars.

"I do not like the idea of demolishing part of the building - I think its integrity should be respected."

Most evident .....

The evidence of success of city / city centre redevelopment must be how far it spills into the `burps.....

Merseytram to Kirkby would be pointing in the right direction and others too.

:bash:

Sorry about the dodgy scan but this picture out of last nights echo looks brilliant I think,anyone else agree?

The same image, this is going to look brilliant driving down Edge Lane.

Littlewoods Building - Edge lane ..... a new beacon!

This has to be one more example (and a good one) of taking current economic forces for `Liverpool City Centre regeneration` and pushing it back into the surrounding areas.

Reconnecting the fabric of the city core to the surrounds.

All following the horrendous demise of the inner city core from the rest of the city structure during the late nineteen sixties to nineteen nineties.

This also seems a prime spot / area / district for the various `University` Campus to also follow.

OK this is a different Littlewoods building but I thought they would be fine here, new signs going on "the Plaza"