The water firm announced last year it was relocating to Coventry from Birmingham, taking with it 1,700 staff.

The site will be built on what is currently Much Street car park and open in 2009. Plans for its headquarters have been given to the city council.

A spokesman said the application was expected to take some time to discuss as there were a number of issues, such as staff transport, to be considered.

The development will include an energy saving building where rainwater would be recycled.

Coventry is about 13 miles away from Severn Trent's current site at Sheldon.