Liverpool shortlisted for new Channel 4 HQ

Liverpool’s bid to become the new home of Channel 4 has progressed to the next stage.

The broadcaster confirmed today (May 30) in a letter to the council that it has shortlisted the city in its search search for a new HQ.

The next round of assessment, taking place in late June, will include a site visit.

The move will be the biggest structural change in Channel 4’s 35-year history and include the launch of three new ‘creative hubs’ – the biggest of which will be the national HQ.

Liverpool has been shortlisted for both the HQ and a creative hub.

As part of the expansion, Channel 4 News will also open three news bureaux, trebling jobs by 2020.

Submitted in early May, the #4forLiverpool bid focused on several potential locations. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram are jointly leading the campaign.

In the wake of establishing Europe’s first ever Film Office, Liverpool is now the most filmed city in the UK outside London. It enjoyed its busiest year of filming to date in 2017, with 289 projects shot in and around the city. Liverpool currently has £90m of productions in the pipeline.

In March, the City Council revealed details of a project to transform Liverpool into the ‘Hollywood of the North’ with a world-class film studio at the former Littlewoods HQ.

This follows plans for the new Ten Streets creative quarter near the city centre.

Mayor Anderson said: “I’m delighted Channel 4 has recognised the strength and quality of our #4forLiverpool bid and has shortlisted the city for its new home. The bid has been a great team effort and I want to thank everyone who has supported the city to date.

“This is a hotly contested bidding competition and to reach this next stage in the process demonstrates Liverpool’s pulling power as a location that offers businesses and their employees a great work/life balance.”

He continued: “There are exciting plans afoot to cement Liverpool’s position at the cutting edge of the creative sector and Channel 4 has a huge role to play in that story. Now that they are coming to visit, I’ve no doubt they will be wowed by what the city has to offer and how they can help shape it.”

Metro Mayor Rotheram said: “This is a massive vote of confidence for what the Liverpool city region is doing to bolster our creative economy.

“Everyone knows our city region has an incredible pool of talent of writers, actors, directors and technicians and Channel 4’s potential relocation here would put rocket boosters on our plans to establish the area as a beacon for the next generation of storytellers, film makers and set designers.”

The director of the final four Harry Potter films, David Yates, is among those backing Liverpool’s bid. Also supporting the city are actor Alison Steadman and award-winning writer Jimmy McGovern.

The bid was likewise endorsed at the Houses of Parliament recently, with Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, vice-chair of the Channel 4 All Party Parliamentary Group, tabling an Early Day Motion (EDM) noting the city’s cultural prowess and “the positive impact of the employment and training opportunities this move could provide the city, and the wider North West”.

Channel 4 will make a final decision in October.