Part of Brighton town centre would be transformed under plans for a new library and public square unveiled today.

The plans were submitted by the Norwich Union Public Private Partnership Fund, one of three groups bidding to build the library in Jubilee Street.

The contemporary-style library has been designed by architects Bennett Associates featuring a dramatic use of glass.

It will overlook a new square that will be the cultural and leisure focus of the development. It will also be a new outdoor venue for events such as the Brighton Festival.

The scheme includes homes, shops, bars, restaurants, a GP surgery, a pharmacy, workshops and local convenience stores - and an apartment hotel on the other side of the square facing the library.

One feature of the library will be its environmental design, which would help it to use less than half the energy of comparable buildings.

The partnership fund project director Jeremy Tilford said: "This provides a hugely imaginative and innovative solution to an area of Brighton that has been allowed to languish for far too long.

"We now have an exciting proposal on the table that will allow Brighton to extend the success of its cultural quarter and link together the current landmarks, amenities and facilities in the entire area."

The partnership fund is a joint venture between Norwich Union Life and Pensions and the Mill Group formed to undertake schemes under the Government's Private Finance Initiative. Two other consortiums are in the running for the Jubilee Street development - Jubilee Partners and the Rotch Group.

The plans will be on display at the Pavilion Theatre in New Road today from 4pm to 8pm, on Saturday from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 6pm and on Tuesday from 9am to 2pm.

Brighton and Hove Council will decide after public consultation which of the consortiums will get the job.

The winning group's scheme will then go before the planning committee. If it is approved, the library could be ready by the end of 2002.