Liverpool’s new studio space has been named as ‘The Depot’ and is to start taking booking for shoots to come in after Easter.
The naming of the facilities, that sit alongside the Littlewoods building currently being redeveloped as studios, coincides with the news that Morgan Sindall Construction, who are building the units on behalf of Liverpool City Council, has reached the first major milestone for The Depot, with the topping out of the two 20,000 sq ft units.
It is expected that the shooting space, which received funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, will be operational by Summer 2021.
Liverpool City Council’s Development Team and Film Office are overseeing the scheme, and the Film Office is already in talks with major global production over use of the space.
Liverpool Film Office invites enquiries for use of the space after Easter.
The Depot offers a temporary facility to capitalise on the current demand for studio space until the nearby Littlewoods studios scheme is complete.
The city is currently hosting productions such as ITV’s remake of The Ipcress File and BBC’s Peaky Blinders and The Responder starring Martin Freeman, as well as recently welcoming blockbusters such as Warner Bros’ The Batman, and high-end TV drama such as Netflix’s The Irregulars, Channel 4’s Help (w/t), BBC’s Time and Sky’s COBRA and Tin Star: Liverpool.
Councillor Wendy Simon, Acting Mayor of Liverpool, said: “I think The Depot is a perfect name for these studios – as it’s a place where ideas will come to life and will make the magic we enjoy on the screen happen.
“As a well as being a nod to the site’s history, The Depot is also a signpost to the city’s future – one built on a creative and knowledge-based workforce.
“The topping out of The Depot is an exciting moment in the journey to realising Liverpool’s ambition to be a 24/7 film city. There’s already a huge amount of interest to book these studios, which underlines their value, but they will also prove to be a fabulous asset for training and nurturing talent in Liverpool.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “I’ve long said our region is the country’s creative capital and we’re investing to make sure it stays that way. We’ve approved investment of £17m to support the new shoot space, along with the Littlewood Film and TV studios and it’s fantastic to see the new production facilities topped out.
“The Liverpool City Region is already an obvious choice for what we can offer in front of the camera, with a wealth of creative talent and stunning backdrops. Now we can be a worldwide filming destination for what we offer behind the camera too, with world class facilities that mean productions can be shot, edited and finished without having to leave the region.”
Richard Potts, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “The topping out of The Depot is not just a key moment in the construction of this brilliant new shoot space but also a milestone in how our city can flourish in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Liverpool’s magnificent architecture means it has long attracted film and TV productions from all over the world. Now, with The Depot the city will be even more attractive to the creative industries, resulting in significant investment and the opportunity to create valuable jobs for local people. It’s a pleasure for our team to work on another development in the city that will help shape its future for many years to come.”
Jon Creamer
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