AROUND 1,000 new jobs will be brought to Liverpool in the coming months as part of the continuing drive to create a “Superport” in the region, the Daily Post can reveal.

The Mersey Partnership (TMP) said it was working with four to five distribution companies to bring the jobs, and are expecting to be able to announce full details soon.

Mark Basnett, TMP’S director of investments, told delegates at the Mipim (Marché International des Professionals d’Immobilier) at Cannes, in the French Riviera, that the distribution sector represents a huge opportunity in the coming decade. It has been estimated 26,000 jobs could be created in the sector by 2020.

He said due to confidential negotiations, he was unable to name the firms due to announce their arrival.

But the region has already tasted recent success in this field.

Last month, Tesco and distribution giants Stobart agreed a deal which will bring 750 jobs to Widnes at a new distribution centre – a 500,000sq ft chilled warehouse on the banks of the Mersey.

In November last year, discount retailer B&M Bargains announced it was moving from Blackpool, bringing 200 office jobs and 400 warehouse, packing and distribution roles to Speke.

Mr Basnett said: “There is a huge shift towards port-centred logistics going on at the moment and Liverpool is particularly well placed to take advantage.

“We have four or five companies in the pipeline with the potential to bring more than 1,000 jobs. Container growth is still projected despite the recession.”

He said part of Liverpool’s growth in this area was being driven by cost, environmental reasons and the shift in consumers’ shopping habits, with more goods being bought online. It forms part of a bid to position Liverpool as a “Superport” with the Port of Liverpool and John Lennon Airport at the heart of the strategy.