Details of a £45 million city centre scheme to give Brighton and Hove its own version of Covent Garden were unveiled today.

Plans for the Jubilee Street site were submitted to councillors on the day of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to help Brighton and Hove celebrate city status.

The site, which has been derelict for the whole of her 49-year-reign, would be transformed into a Covent Garden-style venue for eating, shopping and entertainment.

Developed by the Mill Group and Norwich Union Public Private Partnership, the 250,000sq ft scheme would be funded through a combination of private money and the Government's Private Finance Initiative.

The centrepiece would be a public library replacing the old one in Church Street.

Towards the North Road end of the site there would be a contemporary glass-fronted building designed to use half the energy costs of any comparable structure.

In front would be a public square with a capacity of 750, able to stage a variety of events. Although normally open air, it could be covered in case of rain.

Mill Group director Erik Pagano said: "The square is the heart of the development."

The scheme would be called The Square. It has been designed by Bennetts Associates with Lomas, Cassidy and Edwards.

Ian Taylor of Bennetts said: "The library has been designed to have a distinctive character in the centre of the development and to demonstrate best practice in the design of an environmentally-sustainable public building.

"The new buildings around the library define a series of pedestrian spaces and reinstate Jubilee Street to tie into the urban grain of the surrounding area."

If approved, the library should be open in 2003.

Two unique features would be a bookshop and cafe, both to be operated by established high street names.

It is also likely that the visitor information centre would move there from Bartholomew Square.

At the western end of the Square, opening out on to Jubilee Street, there would be an area for al fresco dining, served by 15 cafes, bars and restaurants designed to attract speciality operators.

Niche retailers and an organic supermarket would carry though the flavour of the neighbouring North Laine area.

Talks are taking place with the Komedia to see if the successful theatre could be extended into the scheme.

There would be a twitten connecting Regent and Jubilee Streets. If possible, there would be another connection into Gardner Street.

Loft-style apartments would be built above the new shops in Jubilee Street. They have been designed to meet demand for a return to city centre living. There would also be housing fronting North Road above shops.

The scheme would also include workshops, a doctor's surgery and a pharmacy.

A four-star, 50-bed hotel would be at the southern end of The Square.

There would be offices above the restaurants at the junction of Church Street and Regent Street.

The old music library would be converted into a restaurant and the former county courthouse changed into a lecture theatre.

Extensive talks have taken place with council officials and architectural experts after previous ventures failed on design grounds.

Developers hope the planning committee will pass the scheme in June. If so, work would start soon after.