City scenes which planners say could become commonplace in Swindon by 2030 include bustling with pavement cafes and a Parisian urban park with a relaxing water feature.

Other images they foresee are narrow side streets hugged by historic architecture, modern high-rise apartments and a lively but warm nightlife.

The scenes may be difficult to imagine in the heart of Swindon today, but if the ambitious £350m vision for the town comes off, they represent the sort of ambience architects are looking to conjure up for the future.

The impressive blueprint drawn up by London-based urban planners Shillam and Smith has been met with widespread acclaim since it was unveiled in glorious detail by Swindon Council on Thursday.

The firm called upon the services of the country's best specialist retail, transport, socio-economic and quantity surveying firms and spent nearly a year assessing exactly what it would take to transform Swindon into a world-class city.

The plans propose a completely revamped town centre, featuring public squares, boulevards and a revitalised cultural scene with a 24-hour library, art gallery and multiplex cinema.

The North Star area would also face an ambitious overhaul, becoming a science and education park nestled among a green space and a lake.

The main University of Bath in Swindon campus would be located there next to Swindon College's new complex, a rebuilt Oasis leisure centre, company offices and modern apartment housing.

In Old Town, the parking system would be shaken up to create space for a lively cafe society and more speciality shops, offices and housing.

All three areas would be linked by a modern ultra-light tram system running at regular intervals around the town in a figure-of-eight loop. Louise Newman, an associate of Shillam and Smith and the leader of the project, said the town should not be afraid to embrace modern architecture which could elevate it onto a plane with Europe's brightest cities.

"Swindon can be like Paris, London, Zurich or Dublin," she said. "These developments are intended to create a new European feel for the town but also one which will be unique to Swindon.

"We don't want to just recreate an old market town, which is fine in the right place, but isn't relevant to the needs and aspirations of Swindon people."

Funding for the scheme would come mostly from the private sector, although the council would contribute in most areas.