AN INTERNATIONAL trade centre on the banks of the River Mersey would boost the local economy by up to £100m a year, it was claimed last night.

Developer Peel has submitted hundreds of pages of plans to Wirral Council to support its ambitious £200m proposal for Birkenhead docks.

The centre, known as the ITC, would be the first of its type in western Europe.

Peel said it will create 3,000 jobs and help kickstart the £4.5bn Wirral Waters redevelopment of the dockland area.

An accompanying planning statement also outlined a potential timescale for the development.

If approved by councillors, site preparation would begin in September and last a year, with the first of four planned units ready by May, 2013.

Three other units could be built, with the entire scheme completed by 2019 if it goes according to plan.

Peel director Lindsey Ashworth described the ITC as “a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins”.

Peel’s economic report estimated the scheme would add £100m to the local economy.

It said: “The project will also help stimulate growth in a number of other ways, so the £100m figure could be considered conservative in terms of the actual value of the ITC to the economy.”

Peel said its commitment to other aspects of Wirral Waters, including major proposals for mixed-use development at East Float, was not directly affected by the ITC and the company will continue to bring those forward.