Bosses at Velocity Estates this week plan to apply to increase the height of Velocity Tower from 22 storeys to a staggering 36 storeys instead.

If approved it would make the building, currently rising at off St Mary's Gate, the tallest in South Yorkshire – taller even than the St Paul's Tower being built next to the Winter Garden.

City Lofts, the developers building the St Paul's tower, had boasted their building would eventually be the tallest in county, offering unrivalled views, but the claim could be scuppered if Velocity Estates gets its way.

Velocity had previously indicated it might increase the height of the Velocity Tower and it has now confirmed its plans.

The height increase would make the green-tinted glass Velocity Tower to 108 metres up to its roof and 121 metres to the tip of the wind turbines.

It would also bring the cost of the scheme up from £60 million to £75 million.

The first flats in the office and residential scheme were released last week and Velocity Estates says there is "record interest".

Building work at the tower is three months ahead of schedule and it is already 22 storeys high, mostly residential with offices at ground level.

If approved, the new application will see the additional 15 floors used as hotel or serviced accommodation with a public sky bar capitalising on the views from the top level.

Daniel Biggins, head of residential lettings for Velocity Estates, said: "We have released phase one of the residential which encompasses around 40 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments over four to five floors.

"These luxury apartments will be available from this autumn and all will benefit from panoramic views and have been designed to allow maximum light in each room.

"Interest in Velocity Tower has been phenomenal and since the revised planning, the tower has become one of the most talked-about developments in the city.

"There has been so much in the press about the slowing of the residential market but we have not witnessed this at the tower or at the Velocity Village scheme, where lettings have also been incredibly fast."

If planning permission is granted, the 36-storey tower would be on course for completion by the middle of next year.