Plans for a world-first revolving glass observation pod in the centre of Bath, UK, have been unveiled by SRA Architects co-founder Nicholas Stubbs.

The £5m (US$7.7m, €6.9m) plans would see the rotating 65m-tall (213ft) ‘AquEye’ built on the Somerset city’s Pulteney Weir Island next to the historic Pulteney Bridge.

The structure, made up of two long masts, holds an observation pod at the end of it which would swing out over the River Avon, rising up above the historic city as it turns to offer a view of the surrounding area. The pod is capable of handling 25 passengers per ‘flight,’ with three ascensions an hour offering unrivalled views of the largely Georgian and Roman-era city. The high-tech, low profile design has been created specifically for a historic city such as Bath, so as not to have a significant visual impact on the surroundings.

There has been some opposition to the plan, with preservation advocates saying that the pod is poorly located, blocking views of the 18th century weir and bridge in the city, which is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

A crowdfunding campaign for the development will launch in November to support the full planning and development of the installation, which should gain some traction with names such as Olympic gold medal winning skeleton champion Amy Williams supporting the project.

If planning permission is granted and fundraising is successful, it is hoped that AquEye will be open by 2017.