CALLS have been made for the final approval of “radical” plans to create more green space and improve traffic flow in the city centre.

Detailed designs for the ambitious Valley Gardens project go before Brighton and Hove city councillors for what could be the final stage of approval next week, after plans were unanimously approved by the planning committee earlier this month.

Ahead of Tuesday’s environment, transport and sustainability meeting, committee chairwoman Gill Mitchell voiced her support for the scheme.

Councillor Mitchell said: “This is a great opportunity to create more green space in the city centre – at present we don’t have very much.

“The new layout should make it easier and more pleasant for all modes of transport, particularly those that are kinder to the environment and take up less precious space – cycling, walking, buses and taxis.

“I’m extremely keen that we do everything possible to keep the roads flowing during the construction phase.”

The £11 million development would create a new park by improving the series of green spaces between St Peter’s Church and the Royal Pavilion, as well as “simplifying” the road layout and creating routes for sustainable transport.

The main changes to roads involve putting both north and southbound traffic on the east side of the valley.

Buses, taxis and traffic bound for the North Laine area would instead use a quieter road on the west side.

Conservative councillor Joe Miller previously said: “It will create something in the city that the city can be really proud of.”

The plans would see some 3,000 square metres of highway space turned into open space – a seven per cent increase.

New public squares would be created south of St Peter’s Church, opposite the Richmond pub.

In some places cycle contraflows will be added to side streets and traffic lights would be modernised as part of the scheme, with plans to use the latest technology to detect vehicles and change lights to optimise traffic flow.

Council parks officials have been co-ordinating designs with the transport department and a full maintenance plan for the new gardens has since been drawn up.

Councillors at the committee meeting on Tuesday will be considering proposed final landscaping and road designs.

The Valley Gardens project, mostly paid for by Government funds, was originally proposed by the Green administration in 2013.

If approved, work on the development should start next spring, with the project expected to be completed by around spring 2020.