Plans for the world's first man-made floating leisure village, which is to be built in Glasgow, have been revealed.

Developers claim the £30m development, in the "canting basin" in Govan, the area of Prince's Dock where ships used to turn, will enable Glasgow to join the ranks of the great coastal cities of the world.

The iconic structure, set in more than 12 acres of water and which will house a marina, shops, restaurants and rooftop concert arena, is expected to turn the basin into a major tourism attraction, "unmatched anywhere else in the world".

Floating Concepts, which specialises in property developments on water, plans to create a new canal with a u-shaped floating street that will be home to two and three-storey office buildings, studio flats and townhouses. There will also be shops, a hotel, restaurants and an 80-berth marina with a further 150 berths for residents and visitors.

Residents in new studio flats and townhouses will be able to dock their boats at private moorings and "pool" boats will be offered for offices to encourage employees to use the river for getting to and from work and for recreational activities.

Up to 450 jobs will be created by the development, which borders the Science Centre and Imax cinema on the south side of the River Clyde and has been designed by Glasgow-based ZM Architecture and specialist water-based architects Baca Limited of London.

Scottish Enterprise first put the development, which covers five hectares of water, out for tender in June 2009 with a vision of creating a "lively active waterspace that is both a draw for tourists and a positive amenity for its businesses and residents".

David Beard, chief executive of Floating Concepts, said: "Despite having one of the most impressive river frontages in the UK, Glasgow does not have a prime waterfront destination.

"Our development will change this, enabling Glasgow to join the ranks of the great coastal cities of the world.

"The very iconic structure of a floating village will turn the canting basin into a major tourism attraction unmatched anywhere else in the world, as well as being a thriving centre for local people and businesses."

Mr Beard, who was part of a syndicate of investors who led the early regeneration of Liverpool South Docks, added: "Our development of the canting basin will give the people of Glasgow an opportunity to enjoy the unique experience of coming into close contact with the water.

"It will become a quality centre for eating, drinking, shopping, entertaining and meeting friends, in a contemporary marine environment.

"The development will benefit from the existing footfall generated by the Glasgow Science Museum and Imax cinema and will reinforce and expand the existing leisure and recreational offer there.

"The floating village will also provide an important link between the Media Quarter, home to BBC Scotland and STV and spark interest and boost land values for the regeneration of the Govan Docks to the west."

Floating Concepts, which gives five per cent of profits it makes from any projects to the local community, is expected to begin talks with Glasgow City Council before it submits an outline planning application for the proposals.

Designers who have previously created floating structures in the Netherlands and Scandinavia are expected to be recruited to help with the building and the developers hope to be able to begin work in the middle of next year.

The regeneration is expected to take up to three years to complete. If planning permission is granted and private funding can be found the complex could be in place by 2015.