Ten of the country's top design consultancies have been invited to put forward their ideas to turn the Sunniside Gardens area of Sunderland into the £2m centrepiece for the area's regeneration.

The winning design will make the gardens a place for visitors and residents to enjoy concerts, art and pavement cafes, and create an urban oasis for relaxation close to the city centre.

John Anderson, vice-chairman of the Sunniside Partnership, said: "The new gardens will be tremendously important to the ambitious £130m proposals to regenerate Sunniside as they will form the area's main focus and act as a strong lever to attract new investment. With a new cinema opening and all of the new cafes and restaurants already in place, these gardens should be a magnet for businesses and visitors."

Funding for the project has come from English Partnerships and TyneWear Partnership, supported by regional development agency One NorthEast.

The first phase in the competition will involve the invited ten companies submitting outline proposals. A shortlist of four practices will be invited to prepare more detailed plans.

Those proposals will be assessed by a panel of six judges, made up of experts in architecture, landscaping, heritage buildings and urban design.

The public will also be able to have their say on the designs before the judges decide on the winning proposal. An exhibition will be held next month in the Sunniside Partnership offices at 176 High Street West.