The man behind the designs for a mirror pool and park in the centre of Bradford has talked of it becoming to the city what Trafalgar Square is to London and Central Park is to New York.

Landscape architect Tom Walker of Gillespies also told a Bradford Council meeting that the first phase of the ambitious plans for a City Park will begin towards the end of next year and be completed by 2011.

Bradford Council and Bradford Centre Regeneration has submitted a £24.5 million bid to the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks scheme for the ten-acre park around City Hall. If successful, this money would pay for the mirror pool plaza and all the proposals for Centenary Square and Norfolk Gardens, at a total cost of £29.8 million.

Lottery assessors visited the city at the end of last month which coincided with the submission of the scheme to the Council for planning permission.

Plans to demolish the magistrates' court and old police station have also been lodged to make way for the second phase of the park - the Business Forest.

Jonathan Hall, of BCR, told the regulatory and appeals committee that without planning permission the Lottery funding will not be forthcoming.

"The Lottery is looking to make a decision before the end of the year, and it is quite clear that a scheme that doesn't have planning permission, for whatever reason, is not going to be a scheme they give the money to," he said.

"The scheme, when completed, will provide a new centre for Bradford. And one which will provide a meeting space, but it will also offer the potential to be a significant regional venue with the hope of putting Bradford back on the map. It's a very important project for the future of the city centre and for the whole of Bradford."

The meeting was also given assurances that there is between £600,000 and £700,000 a year factored into the budget for maintenance of the city park, with a rangers office on site. The pool could be drained daily for the surface to be cleaned and the water to be filtered.

The designs for the park include a flexible mirror pool, infrastructure to hold major public events beside City Hall, children's play areas, places of quiet reflection and bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as an information kiosk and a replacement news kiosk.

A decision on the planning applications is expected by the end of next month, and the Lottery should announce whether Bradford's bid has been shortlisted in October with a final decision in November.