Littlewoods building: Work starts to revamp historic clock
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Remediation teams have been on site on Edge Lane since December
Work to restore a historic clock at the iconic former Littlewoods building in Liverpool has started.
The 86-year-old landmark building on Edge Lane is being transformed into a film studio and production hub.
The building was the home of the football pools when it was first built in 1938 and closed in 1994.
A fire in 2018 caused extensive damage and work to transform the site started in December.
Remediation teams have been working to strip out the buildings and maintain their structural integrity, preparing them for repurposing and restoration.
The clock is a distinctive feature of the art deco design
The plans will see sound stages, studios, office space and a training facility open on the site
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has invested £8m into the first phase of the project, expected to run until the summer.
The development will be delivered in phases and a total of £17m has been committed by the authority so far.
Work is now focused around the clock tower, with teams using cherry pickers to access the clock.
Last week developers Capital and Centric (C&C) shared a video on the progress which includes removing the damaged canopy and grafting work to restore the building's art deco façade.
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First developed by John Moores as the headquarters for the Littlewoods football pools, the business had 16m weekly players at its peak.
The building is divided into three sections including the east and west wings, separated by a 1960s addition, the hangar.
The West Wing includes five levels within the north and south bookends, as well as six further within the central clock tower.
The building was first developed as the headquarters for the Littlewoods football pools
The Littlewoods Pools Company continued to operate in the building until its closure in November 1994 and in 2018, after the major fire, the site was acquired by C&C and regeneration plans were announced.
Film production sound stages, studios, office space and a training facility are planned to be completed on the site by 2026.
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