BUILDING a £200m International Trade Centre would kick-start the £11bn scheme to regenerate docklands in Liverpool and Wirral, the company behind the plan said last night.

Today, Peel will submit plans for an International Trade Centre (ITC) at West Float as part of its £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme.

The centre, which has the potential to create more than 3,000 jobs, will be unique in the UK and would bring substantial international investment.

The ITC would enable Chinese companies, as well as those from other emerging markets such as Korea and India, to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK, Irish and European markets.

Peel said the only other centre of this type is located in Poland.

Peel Director Lindsey Ashworth said: “This is a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins.

“All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas and local people will have the opportunity to apply for the new jobs that will be created.”

Peel wants to build dozens of skyscrapers on both sides of the Mersey and already has planning permission for the Wirral scheme.

It is currently embroiled in a row with English Heritage about the size and scale of its plans in Liverpool where the city council is due to decide whether to grant planning permission later this year.

The outline application for the ITC includes four separate multi-level buildings totalling around 2.5m sq ft of floor space – the equivalent of 23 large football pitches.

Peel wants it to serve as a trading gateway in to the UK and Europe.

Goods will include but not be restricted to electrical

and technology, clothing and fashion, kitchenware, furniture, fixtures and fittings, DIY products,

building materials, toys, garden products, sporting goods and household items.

Mr Ashworth added: “It is the one thing that can kick start the whole Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters scheme is this.

“It will allow us to start building up a community of prosperity to develop the area.”

The four buildings are likely to be phased over the next 10 years and it is envisaged that first phase building construction will commence sometime next year.