PLANS for one of Liverpool city centre’s biggest-ever commercial office developments have been submitted, the Daily Post can reveal.

Northern Irish firm West Bay Capital is behind the £50m 18-storey scheme, providing 225,000 sq ft of office space, which it hopes to build at 30, Pall Mall.

The company hopes to win planning permission and start work before the end of the year, with the first phase taking two years, and the second 15 months.

The Daily Post understands funding is in place for the scheme, but is subject to a proportion of the building being pre-let.

Last night, the company said the development was a “huge vote of confidence” in Liverpool and crucially important in helping to maintain the growth of the city’s commercial quarter.

It is understood the firm wants to provide a potential home for Government department relocations, with Liverpool currently competing to provide space for 2,500 jobs from the Ministry of Justice.

Frank McKenna, chairman of lobby group Downtown Liverpool in Business, said it was a good sign of returning confidence to the city property market.

West Bay Capital, a family- owned business, has previously developed office, retail and residential developments in Belfast, Dublin and London. It has set up 30 Pall Mall Ltd to deliver the scheme.

Last night, company managing director Ashley Moore said: “We are delighted to be submitting this application and it signifies our belief that Liverpool can become one of the UK’s premier business destinations.

“The city has some fantastic strengths as a business destination, but it is essential that it continues to grow its supply of top-quality commercial office space if it is going to maintain its post-Capital of Culture renaissance in the longer term.”