A multi-million-pound project to transform Saughton Park and Gardens into one of Edinburgh’s premier parks has entered the next stage after submitting a £4m funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF).

The City of Edinburgh Council, which submitted the bid to HLF’s Parks for People programme, is looking to restore the park to its former glory.

The money would be used to extensively renovate the walled garden, footpaths and historic features, and replace the Winter Garden building with a Victorian-style glasshouse. It would also include the creation of a café and community building.

The estimated cost of the project is £5.8m, of which £4m is sought from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £233,000 from third party sources. The council would also contribute £1.25m, phased over a six-year period.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, transport and environment convener, said: “Saughton Park and Gardens used to be a leading tourist attraction and played host to the famous 1908 Scottish National Exhibition, which attracted 3.5m visitors to this part of the city.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get the funding to put this park back at the centre of outdoor living in Edinburgh and also at the centre of horticultural activities in Scotland.”