Controversial plans for a £5.5m cycle project aimed to make Edinburgh city centre more bicycle-friendly have been approved.

Detailed designs will be drawn up for the "family friendly" route linking a cycle path from the west of the city centre to the east following a public meeting.

The project aims to link the existing off-road path network at Roseburn with a "protected" cycle route to Leith Walk.

Plans for Option A - which involved controversial plans to replace a traffic lane on Roseburn Terrace with a cycle path along the northern side - were approved on Friday by city director of place Paul Lawrence.

Critics said the designs for the A8 at Roseburn, West Coates and Haymarket Terrace would lead to shop closures, higher congestion and air pollution and threaten the safety of pedestrians.

To help allay these concerns, the route will be reviewed a year after it is put in place.

It is hoped the move will encourage more commuters to cycle or walk into town instead of using a car.

A new group made up of councillors, local groups and other council officers was formed earlier this year to help take the design forward.

Edinburgh City Council transport convener Lesley Hinds said: "I'm pleased that we've now arrived at a final design for this bold and transformational project, which will make it so much easier to cycle and walk into and right through the city centre by linking up with our already well-used QuietRoutes across the north and west of Edinburgh."

She said she recognised the concerns of local residents and businesses, adding: "I hope we can work with them in the coming months to ensure the project works for them too."

Daisy Narayanan, acting director at Sustrans Scotland, also welcomed the decision.

She said: "We are keen to support the city council in a project which, when implemented, should provide major benefits for Edinburgh as a whole, and bring renewed vibrancy to neighbourhoods along the route."

Green transport spokesman Nigel Bagshaw said: "I am delighted that the right decision has made. A direct route through Roseburn is the most sensible option and one that I have supported throughout.

"The city urgently needs a network of segregated cycleways if it is to turn the corner on air pollution and congestion. So this should just be the start."