This is the first glimpse of how the new Liverpool ferry landing stage - funded by the Manx taxpayer - could look.

Liverpool Waters unveiled its proposals for the new Central Docks neighbourhood at an international property event in Cannes.

It’s the next chapter in a £5bn project to transform 150 acres of historic docklands, the biggest regeneration scheme in the city of Liverpool’s history.

Some £300m of construction work is due to start by the end of the year. Proposals include more than 1,000 new waterfront flats in buildings up to 44 storeys high, 750,000 sq ft of office space and a 17-acre public park.

But it will also see the Steam Packet relocated from its current site at Pier Head half a mile down the Mersey at Waterloo/Princes Half-Tide Dock.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK gave an update at last weekend’s spring meeting of passenger watchdog TravelWatch.

He told the audience of about 70 gathered at the Villa Marina that the Liverpool landing stage is progressing and he would return to the Council of Ministers and Tynwald to seek the funds to build the terminal.

Tynwald last July approved funding of £3.5m to buy the site for the new facility.

The Department of Infrastructure says it is currently in detailed discussions with the landowner to finalise an agreement to acquire the site.

It told the Manx Independent that there will then be an open tender to engage contractors to design and build the new ferry terminal which will be funded by the Manx government as a capital project.

This will need to go to Tynwald for approval.

’The department is keen to secure the island’s most popular sea route and provide stability for local people and businesses,’ it said.

The DoI has yet to give a figure for the cost of designing and constructing the facility.

But TravelWatch believes it will be £20m-plus - and the group has questioned whether the Manx authorities should have negotiated more robustly against ’eviction’ from the current Pier Head site.

Spokesman John Pennington queried whether the Manx government would be able to supervise the work from 70 miles away to ensure that the contractor delivers to specification, time and price in accordance with the contract.

And he said: ’It is vital government engages independent professional engineering advice to assess condition of land, dock wall and river conditions before any contract is signed and before committing to spend £20m plus.’

The watchdog also has concerns about access for passengers to the new facility which it says will be less convenient for the city centre, and bus and rail connections.

In a statement it said: ’We’ve questioned whether the Isle of Man authorities could have negotiated in a more robust way against eviction, or sought a shared cruise and ferry facility.’

News of a dedicated bus service between the new terminal and city centre is welcome, it said, but added: ’It would be ridiculous to have a fast-ferry crossing followed by long wait for a bus.’

Another issue could be plans for a new stadium for Everton FC at Bramley Moore dock and the need to ensure football traffic does not congest the Dock Road and the new access road to the ferry terminal.