SUPPORT is growing for a plan to build a £15million "futuristic" pier on Plymouth's waterfront.

The idea is to place the structure on the footprint of the Hoe pier which was bombed in World War Two.

But the project, formulated by city businessman and waterfront campaigner Tam Macpherson, would not merely see the old pier reinstated – this would be a modern, eco-friendly, design built to "entertain and educate".

It is envisaged as supporting a building of up to five storeys, housing such facilities as a conference hall, restaurants, shops, berthing for vessels including water taxis, public toilets, fishing pontoons and even a monorail.

Plymouth's AWW Architects has produced dynamic images of how the pier could look.

"We would be returning our foreshore to its former glory and reinstating lost heritage," said Mr Macpherson, adding that it would complement attractions such as Tinside pool and the Dome.

"This could be a fantastic goal for us, to achieve regeneration and growth of Plymouth's visitor appeal," he said. "We can leave an iconic legacy we can be proud of for future generations."

Ian Sanders, a director at Sutton Harbour based AWW, said: "Plymouth Pier provides an opportunity to once again provide an attraction that will be the centrepiece of the waterfront."

He envisages a contemporary, flexible space containing attractions, with a central space adapted for uses including exhibitions, stage shows, or theatrical productions.

AWW's design even has a wind turbine at the end of the pier to provide its electricity supply.

Mr Macpherson, who runs the Clipper Inn and Wee Clipper Bar and last year stood for council on the waterfront, got the idea after realising how much interest there is in piers nationally, and their "commercial pulling power".

He studied other piers, including Weston-super-Mare's new £39million Grand Pier, and said Plymouth's waterfront needs "more than a lick of paint", but instead "a leap of imagination".

Mr Macpherson envisages Plymouth pier, with its boardwalk being shorter than Weston-super-Mare's, costing £13million to £15million.

But he said: "I understand there is English Heritage, Heritage Lottery and European funding ring-fenced for such projects. We would not be taking vital monies from social housing, education, the NHS or police."

And he said with the European Union having an initial mission of compensating war-damaged areas, Euro funding would be appropriate.

However, a feasibility study would be needed first. Hastings pier cost £500,000 for this "pre-planning work", mostly paid for from Lottery and English Heritage funds.

"We need political will and public support to get it to a pre-planning stage which requires a provisional budget of £500,000," he said.

City council leader Vivien Pengelly said a pier would be a tourist magnet and complement the Gary Rhodes restaurant coming to the Dome, and said: "I think it's a great idea. It would generate business and be unique."

But she said the price would be beyond the council and it would need funding for a feasibility study to begin with.

"We would have to go for some kind of European funding or Lottery money, which I understand other councils have done," she said. "We would have to get our MEPs to help out. They say there is a lot of money that has not been tapped into. We are looking to do that."

South West Tory MEP Ashley Fox said: "This pier can become a real icon for Plymouth."

Sutton and Devonport's Tory MP Oliver Colvile said: "It's an issue for the council, but if they want me to talk to anybody in Government I'm willing to do that."

Charles Howeson, chairman of Plymouth Area Business Council, said: "This pier could be the jewel in the crown. It's regenerative, restoration, futuristic, probably practical, and there is lots of experience to make it happen. It has my fullest possible personal support."

Tory Cllr David James said: "It would be a huge tourist attraction and bring much needed income."