The ambitious Park at the Heart project, which aims to turn Bradford City centre into an oasis of calm was given planning approval today, on the casting vote of the committee chairman.

The main feature of the project would be a Mirror Pool' lake surrounded by verdant greenery and would transform the city centre beyond recognition.

The application, which would include the demolition of several major buildings, was passed by a narrow margin at a meeting on the Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee.

But concern was expressed by both Labour and Conservative councillors over the water feature. Christopher Greaves, Conservative Coun for Wharfedale, said he feared the Park in the Heart' would become the Swamp in the Heart.' Voting was tied but the motion to pass was pushed through by the chairman Conservative Councillor Clive Richardson's casting vote.

The ten-acre Park in the Heart in the centre of Bradford will stretch from Jacob's Well and incorporate Centenary Square.

It will have a mirror pool, fountains, trees, a children's play area, art displays and cafés.

The mirror pool, made up of individual pools with fountains, jets and causeways, will reflect the grade one listed City Hall and can be drained to hold large concerts, carnivals, markets, community festivals, sports events and theatre productions.

Its position in the heart of the city will not only play a key part in the renaissance of the area, but will bring people together by attracting more people into the centre.

The total cost of the park will be £30m and the city is submitting a final bid for £24.5m from the Big Lottery Fund.

The £24.5m lottery bid, supported by more than 31,000 people across the region, is being submitted by Bradford Council with the support of Yorkshire Forward, Bradford Centre Regeneration and Bradford Vision.

And the Telegraph & Argus is supporting a Council's Back the Bid' campaign.

The bid aims to win funding from the Big Lottery Fund Living Landmarks scheme and the city is a step closer to creating the park, after the Big Lottery Fund announced that a final shortlist will be revealed after Tuesday, October 16.

If the bid for funding is successful, work will begin in 2008. The Park should take around three years to create.