A “FLAGSHIP” Liverpool development was given the go-ahead as another major planning project suffered a setback.

The city’s planning committee yesterday approved an application for a skyscraper office block in Liverpool’s business district which could pave the way for the arrival of thousands of government jobs.

But they stopped short of approving the University of Liverpool’s multi-million pound plans for a seven-storey on-campus accommodation block after committee members expressed reservations about the scale of the development.

Planning chair Cllr Dave Irving himself said he “wasn’t sure about it” and opted for a site visit before giving the seal of approval.

But Cllr Irving said the proposed 18-storey office block on Pall Mall “really did appeal”.

The site was recently visited by Government North West minister Phil Woolas and the city council’s Labour leader Joe Anderson in what commentators read as a sign Liverpool could soon benefit from up to 4,000 Ministry of Justice jobs.

Spokesman for developers Pall Mall Ltd, Matthew Brooke, told the committee the building would be a “catalyst for the wider regeneration of the commercial district”.

He added there was “a real need, if this area is to expand, to draw people away” from Old Hall Street and the traditional business district towards the Pall Mall and Pownall Square area.