Huge fire in the old Littlewoods building in Liverpool. Shame as there were big plans for it to be used for the film industry.

Knowing what we know about how things operate in this part of the world.... there will be a nice new super futuristic building in it's place. Crooks and Nannies again.

Surely it cant be an electrical fault ?

They only paid £35 million for it !

Well, I think this is the best news I've heard for some time.

It was one of the vilest buildings in teh city. Betjeman - mistaking it for the bus garages next door I think - called it a Mausoleum for trams, and a mausoleum was exactly what it looked like. It dominated the park and the Botanic gardens like some soviet era ministry of propaganda. With luck it will be flattened. It would be nice if something better took its place, but I imagine the land will go for the usually horrible housing estate one sees everywhere these days.

Unbelievable that the building isn't listed, its one of the iconic buildings in Liverpool.

Last pictures i saw of inside it was just a big derelict empty shell made of concrete and steel which of course are very combustible and judging by the wires and stuff hanging off the walls i suspect there was no live electrics to catch fire. Saying it was possibly started on the roof..

Well I hope it can be saved and used as been spoken about for the film industry. It is an iconic Art Deco building and I'm sure many people are fond of it and upset about this happening.

Unbelievable really. Originally stated that the company want more land to develop next to the Littlewood Building. (that's what I read in an Echo report last night)


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-45390540

Just over 12 weeks ago plans were announced for a major new complex at the five-storey site on Edge Lane , including film and TV studios - although the part of the building earmarked for the studios was unaffected by the fire.

I don't know what 'iconic' means any more. The way it is trotted out nowadays I think it has morphed into meaning 'vaguely recognisable'.

But I was under the impression it WAS listed though. (being ill-proportioned oversized and downright ugly is no bar to it being thought worth preserving it seems) This is why it was not demolished years ago. There have been all sorts of wondrous plans for it to be transformed into Hotels, Offices, etc, but as far as I can see it is pretty well useless for anything but checking pools coupons. Sadly, that would - were the pools to be revived - be done online now and could be done from a small office by a PC!

Sometimes I think it's kinder to let the past die. You only have to look at some of Liverpool's old buildings which have been gutted leaving only the facade. Exchange station is one. Not only does it destroy the old building's character, it denies us a chance of a new building which it is possible may even be an improvement to the old. It is cowardly planning and is more like taxidermy than architecture.

I don't agree with you Ex that new is best! So many old solid buildings with character and love!y features been pulled down to be replaced with bland boring glass and steel structures , no history no feeling of nostalgia.... I heard that it is still going to be used for film sets etc and think it ideal for that bringing much needed funds and jobs , so I hope that happens..

. It's like I was so pleased and thought it great that at one time the Cunard Building was going to be the new cruise terminal. So much history and how wonderful for the tourists to see the fine architecture and features of such a building.Dont soppose you'd call that iconic either? ? Unfortunately not to be I was saddened by that decision.

I wonder what started the fire? Seems this happens regularly on empty land with an empty building.
When will the new retail park to replace it appear?

BBC news link to avoid clunky Liverpool Echo site:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-45395296

Some great images there , all those girls checking the pools never realized there was that many needed, ha. It just shows what a great space to use for film sets and all those windows with natural light flooding in. I really really hope that it still goes ahead sounds great to me.

The building had 24/7 guards.

Wonder how 'dedicatedly vigilant ' the guards were .......

They've clocked me twice

I was thinking more about whether they were determinedly looking the other way when it actually mattered .

Its funny how recently considered or looked at old buildings are " under redevelopment " suddenly go on fire after yrs of sitting there.
I smell a paid arsonist or two....