A multi-million pound complex with more than 600 luxury apartments could be built near Preston city centre.

Countryside Properties and Booths supermarket have applied for permission to build four blocks of flats, and a retail superstore on the site of the former Booths depot off Queen Street.

The four blocks would range from eight to 18 storeys and house one and two-bedroom luxury apartments. The superstore would be on the ground floor of one of them.

Developers said the apartments would have views across the city and the River Ribble, and the complex would have a communal garden, three raised platform gardens and parking.

Developers hope its proximity to the city for night life and the proposed £450m Tithebarn regeneration scheme will attract young professionals.

Ian Kelley, managing director Countryside Properties (northern) said: "With Preston achieving city status in 2002, it is rapidly taking up the challenge to become the North West's third largest city, behind Manchester and Liverpool."

If the application is succesful, construction could start this year.

Another planning application, by the Brookhouse Group, of Manchester for part of the site was submitted in April 2005, it included a 24-storey glass tower, a foodstore, hotel, homes, offices, a car show room and a petrol station. Brookhouse submitted a scaled down application last September. Planners said all three applications would be judged on their own merits, and be decided at a future meetings of the planning committee.