Liverpool's Littlewoods film studios plan given £20m Budget boost

Deputy council leader Ruth Bennett welcomed the announcement by Chancellor John Healey.

"It is one of Liverpool's great landmarks and its redevelopment presents an enormous opportunity to build on our success as one of the UK's leading locations for film and television," she said.

However, Liverpool councillor Kris Brown, who said he had raised concerns about the project's financial risks in 2021, called for strict oversight of the new funding.

"While this funding is a massive step forward, the hard work starts now," he said. "We cannot afford any more false dawns.

"The developers must urgently get a main contractor on site, and the council must implement rigorous, transparent oversight."