New images reveal how the final plans for the £20 million revamp of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens could look.

The final detailed proposals for the multi-million pound revitalisation of the green space have been formally submitted to Aberdeen City Council.

The Evening Express can reveal new images, drawn up and released by London Olympic Park outfit LDA Design, which show new entrance buildings, cafes, a gallery area and events space.

Also in the designs are an accessible walkway into the gardens from Union Street and lift access into the lower level through a new entrance building which would provide an activity hub that overlooks the gardens.

The proposals aim to conserve the Victorian park’s heritage and to “sustain Aberdeen’s performance in times of economic difficulty”, according to a design statement by LDA Design.

A “new feature building” is capable of accommodating restaurant/cafe/bar facilities and will also include the restoration and refurbishment of the existing B-listed Victorian toilets.

This restoration will see the toilets completely restored to their former glory, including the retention of glazed wall tiles, cast iron fixings and stain glass windows.

The report said: “Constructed primarily in glass, the feature building provides a new setting for the King Edward VII statue and roof terrace benefits from excellent views across the Gardens.”

Another new building is set to be constructed on Union Terrace to provide a “new setting” for the B-Listed Burns monument and also provide space for a cafe and viewing gallery as well as flexible exhibition space.

The building will also offer a new gateway to the arches located before, which will be backlit to brighten the spaces and increase safety, particularly at night.

It is also proposed that “intricate new gallery space” will be located in the historic granite arches that will be used as a home for local artists and photographer exhibitions as well as linking up with the city’s university art and architecture schools.

The proposals also include the creation of raised walkways which the report said will be “elegant and striking metal clad structures which emerge organically from the slopes of the site”, creating new accessibility and a number of viewpoints.

A new community garden and planting area is proposed for the eastern edge of the Gardens, next to the Denburn Railway, along with two new play areas.

The newly released images also show in more detail a new “halo” lighting feature.

In its report, LDA Design said: “The gardens will not only be able to be appreciated by day but also at night through a distinctive, sensitive and visually appealing lighting scheme which is proposed throughout the entire gardens, from subtle landscape integrated systems, new lit buildings and culminating in a new feature light sculpture that will be suspended above the gardens.”

The plans would see the central lawn area kept for large-scale gatherings, along with an entrance plaza opposite His Majesty’s Theatre for smaller events.

The design statement added: “Union Terrace Gardens is strategically placed in the beating heart of Aberdeen city centre and the proposals will improve existing facilities, inject new uses and increase the vitality and viability of the area.”

The final report will now go before councillors to be voted on. A two-stage tender process is proposed, running from May 2017 to February 2018, to identify and select a preferred contractor to complete the works.

The preferred contractor will be appointed on the basis of “quality and price”.

If approved, there would be a target completion date of autumn 2019.