LIVERPOOL needs to create an extra 10,000 businesses to become the world city it wants to be, its leading regeneration official said last night.

Jim Gill, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, said Liverpool needs to grow its population and economy and ensure the recession is “only a blip” in the city’s revival.

Business creation has traditionally been poor in the city, and Mr Gill’s comments were swiftly echoed by Jack Stopforth, the chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Gill was speaking as his agency launched its three-year business plan, spelling out how it intends to regenerate the city through economic and physical development and business and enterprise support.

Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley said: “We are faced with difficult economic conditions and we must continue to work hard to overcome them, but we have momentum and now an action plan to carry this through.

“We want Liverpool to be a thriving international city, competing on a world stage and we must be prepared for when the economic climate improves.”

Key physical development priorities range from expanding the commercial core around Old Hall Street and linking into Liverpool One.

The agency also plans to help create a development blueprint for north Liverpool and complete the Edge Lane regeneration scheme.

Other priorities include the development of commercial space in the main gateway areas like Speke.

Vision also plans to continue with its enterprise and business support programme to make sure fewer businesses fail.

Mr Gill said: “If we have got 14,000 businesses in the city now, we need another 10,000 to be where we ought to be.

“If you look at the trends over the past five to 10 years, we are going in the right direction.

“We have got to try to make sure the recession is just a blip.”