Plans to transform Salisbury market square

These are the dramatic designs drawn up by experts to transform the West's oldest and largest market square at Salisbury in Wiltshire into one of the most spectacular public open spaces in Europe.

Six design teams, shortlisted from an international field of 46, have been working to revitalise an area that has been at the heart of medieval Salisbury for almost 800 years.

Over the centuries the 2.4-acre open space – comprising Market Place, Guildhall Square and Cheese Market – has witnessed historic scenes from public executions to royal pageants.

But although it continues to stage a twice-weekly charter market for which permission was granted by Henry II in 1227, the area has deteriorated in recent decades into little more than a shabby car park.

The aim of the £3 million initiative is to once more return the spacious area into the hub of city life by creating a "grand square of the highest quality" to rival any in Europe. The six schemes will be displayed at a three-day public exhibition at the city's Guildhall from January 8 to 10, with work earmarked to start early in 2010.

Unveiling them yesterday, Salisbury Council's portfolio holder for economic development and tourism, Cllr Peter Edge, said: "These are exciting designs that will breathe new life into the public heart of our wonderful city, helping the city prosper and grow.

"The business community shares our view that the transformation of the Market Place into a focal point for families, shoppers and our 1.5 million annual visitors will boost trade and generate a feel-good factor at a time when it is sorely needed."

He said the regeneration was long overdue because the area had been neglected for years, has a downtrodden look on non-market days and was woefully under-used.

He added: "Worse, one of western Europe's largest medieval public spaces is home to 69 car parking spaces, a decision made in an environmentally indifferent era when the needs of the motor vehicle were given priority over pedestrians."

Several of the schemes involve the creation of a new market cross.

One features high-quality seating, a natural stone surface, a dramatic and flexible lighting and – at its heart – a beautiful linear fountain. Another includes a robust Market Place surface of thick granite surrounded by other surfaces of natural stone with different patterns and joints to mark the area's historical features, and a strip of flowing water along Blue Boar Row.

A sculptured water feature surrounded by a circle of formal trees is at the heart of another scheme, a raised lawn and water rivulets with the base of their channels inscribed with patterns and textured images.

An outdoor theatre is the centrepiece of yet another design along with a reoriented War Memorial, to face the sun on Armistice Day, along with pavement fountains, a shallow water channel and illuminated water features.

Mr Edge hoped the winning scheme would be announced on February 26.

He said Salisbury would be able to raise its half of the £3m despite fears by Wiltshire County Council – which is paying the other £1.5m – that it would struggle to do so, as reported in yesterday's Daily Press.