The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust is looking for a partner to design, build finance and operate the new hospital.

This process should take two years before a contact is signed and planning permission sought.

The build will take three-and-a-half years. And if all goes to plan it will be finished in late 2015 or early 2016.

Up to £280 million of the project will be funded by the successful consortium. The Treasury Infrastructure Finance Unit may also provide debt finance if private funding cannot be secured on acceptable terms.

The deadline for pre-qualification questionnaires is 2 June.