An £850m revamp of an "eyesore" shopping mall in Edinburgh is set to become the biggest city centre development for decades.

Proposals for St James Shopping Centre site have been unveiled – including shops, a public square, two hotels, luxury flats and new streets.

The 1973 building would be demolished to make way for a three-storey, crescent shaped arcade under the plans.

The scheme, from Multrees Walk to east Princes Street, is to finish by 2015.

Moira Tasker, director of the Cockburn Association, said: "It is an opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the past and create a legacy this generation can be proud of."

Sebastian Tombs, chief executive of Architecture and Design Scotland, a body set up to champion good architecture, said: "The skyline is a very important aspect in thinking about the cityscape.

However, Dr Miles Glendinning, of Docomomo Scotland, a pressure group that fights to preserve 20th-century buildings, said the plans would be "unforgivable" and quickly become out of date. But he conceded: "There is such a consensus among civic opinion that this postwar building should go that it would be impracticable and implausible to put up a fight to save it."

"Now is the time to be thinking quite boldly, asking questions and exploring all the issues."

George Ferguson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), put the St James Centre on his list of ugly buildings in 2004.

Outdoor dining

The planned open-ended street would have a glass roof, with buildings made of stone.

Lower floors of the development would be home to cafes, bars and restaurants with outdoor dining, while up to 90 shops could be included in the arcade.

Members of the public can have their say on plans for Edinburgh's St James Shopping Centre.

The centre's owners, Henderson Global Investors, has launched a major consultation programme into its proposals for the St James Quarter, including the vacant offices at New St Andrew's House.

The eight-week consultation programme, which includes an exhibition and 2,000 questionnaires, will gather views before an outline planning application and illustrative master-plan is submitted to Edinburgh Council in April.

Chris Pyne, senior portfolio manager at Henderson Global Investors, said the proposals marked a major step forward in the vision to transform the existing centre and adjoining buildings into a world-class destination.

He said: "This redevelopment will provide a major boost to the retail offer in the heart of the Scottish capital.

"We plan a contemporary and commercially vibrant development that will sensitively integrate into the urban fabric of Edinburgh."

The public exhibition takes place in the St James Centre on the main shopping level opposite the Royal Bank of Scotland ATMs until 17th March.

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