The Ulster woman at the helm of a mammoth £1bn retail development in the heart of Liverpool's city centre has left her high profile job.

Joanne Jennings announced plans to step down last month, following 18 months of overseeing the Liverpool One project.

Ms Jennings, former Chief Executive of Belfast City Centre Management, said she was seeking "new challenges".

The Duke of Westminster, who owns Grosvenor, the property group behind the scheme, refused to be drawn on Ms Jennings's departure, insisting he did not comment on "personal matters".

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"There's a lot of change going on, but we need to go forward. It’s not a change of strategy or anything like that," said the Duke.

"This is 43 acres of buildings, very much multi-use. We've got our small tenants, big tenants, residential tenants; they all have their needs and worries.

"You've got to be hands-on to manage a commercial estate. When you're responsible for the streets, and for the parks, it's a complex job.

"We're hands-on managers rather than hands-off," added the aristocratic property tycoon.

Ms Jennings, announcing her resignation before Christmas, said: "As we have now delivered Liverpool One’'three-year business plan, which will provide a road map up to 2011, I feel the time is right for me to move on to new challenges."

A source told 4ni.co.uk news that Ms Jennings is planning to return to Belfast, and believed to be considering establishing her own consultancy firm.

(PR/BMcC)