Users of a busy theatre district will get the chance to tell the planners how they would like to see the area transformed.

New Road in Brighton is in line for a £1 million makeover to make it attractive, pedestrian-friendly and safe.

Brighton and Hove City Council is launching a public consultation on the plans so theatre-goers and shoppers can shape how it will eventually look. The road links the North Laine with The Lanes and attractions such as the Dome, the Royal Pavilion and gardens, the Theatre Royal and the Jubilee Library.

It is currently considered unfriendly and inhospitable to pedestrians and cyclists because it attracts fast-moving cars and is cluttered with signs and other street furniture.

The council hired designers Gehl Architects from Copenhagen and charged them with the task of rebuilding the street in a way that would look as attractive as possible.

Under the proposals the street will be levelled out with no pavements or road markings designating where cars, bicycles or pedestrians should be, forcing vehicles to travel slowly and give way to people on foot. All unnecessary signs and street furniture will be removed. A wall along the edge of the garden will be turned into stone benching to encourage people to sit and relax and two trees will be planted at either end of the road. New lighting will help discourage crime and antisocial behaviour and it is also hoped that this will lessen as more people sit and walk around the street into the evenings.

On Saturday the latest designs will be opened for public consultation at the Education Pavilion in Pavilion Gardens, just off New Road. Visitors will be able to meet designers and engineers and give their comments from 11am to 3pm.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of Brighton and Hove's environment committee, said: "We want New Road to set the standard for future environmental enhancement schemes across the city."