A regional daily’s office could be transformed into a hotel – complete with a “sky bar” at the top of the building offering views across its patch.

The Liverpool Echo is set to move to a new home at 5 St Paul’s Square, across the road from its current base in Old Hall Street.

Plans have now been submitted to Liverpool Council by the Echo’s parent company Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales for a new use for the building, where the newspaper has been based since 1973.

The plans, drawn up by architects Corstorphine & Wright, reveal that much of the building would be converted into a 207-bed hotel, with the rest of the space becoming offices.

An artist’s impression of the ‘sky bar’

The tower is the joint tenth-tallest building in Liverpool and the sky bar, with an outside terrace, would offer views across the River Mersey and the city.

At street level there would be three retail units facing Old Hall Street, with a gym in the podium of the building.

The planning application states: “The development presents the opportunity to provide a high quality business hotel to serve both the surrounding business district and leisure visitors alike.

“The retail element will enhance and activate the public realm, by opening up the buildings accessibility to the street frontage both along Old Hall Street and Brook Street.

“The commercial gym, hotel and retail element will add welcome additional amenities to the area.”