Work on the park is set to begin next year and is part of the ongoing waterfront redevelopment.

The 4.7 hectare park will be bigger than Princes Street Gardens, and designers described the open layout and semi-circular shape as reminiscent of the Meadows or Bruntsfield Links.

It will feature a wide range of facilities for the local community, and could also host big-top events like those held in the Meadows.

The initial phase of preparation, known as "greening", is expected to start early next year, after detailed plans were submitted to the council.

Graham Chapman, chair of Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council, said: "This is something that I think everyone here is excited about. There has been a lot of public consultation done, and the developers have really listened to what people wanted to see. It will be a great focus for the local community, which is needed.

"We are also hoping it will become very popular with people from all over the city. We want to get people into Leith and something like this, which will be able to host big events, should attract locals and tourists alike."

As well as the potential to host special events, the park will feature facilities such as "kick-about" areas of grassland, a ball sports court with basketball hoops and an area for five-a-side football.

There will also be a centrally located "recreation hub" featuring a cafe, toilets, a children's play area and a bus drop-off point, as well as facilities for drivers.

Due to its location, which will leave the park open to the elements, designers have drawn up plans for a series of "shelter pockets" across the park to reduce the effect of strong winds.

A ranger service, to be run as a partnership between Forth Ports and the city council, will look after the maintenance of the park.

After discussions with police, it was also decided to keep the park "open", with just a boundary fence, and to keep it well-lit at night. Security will be partly provided by the overlooking of neighbouring properties still being developed on the Waterfront.

More than 3000 homes are being built at the harbour site.

Nathan Thompson, managing director of Forth Property Developments, said: "The development of Western Harbour Park will undoubtedly enhance an area that is already benefiting from the introduction of the Loch Fyne and Prezzo restaurants, the development of a new Asda supermarket and the location of a Next Generation sports and leisure complex.

"Forth Ports' plans to create a new park at Western Harbour is another initiative that will help further develop the new community at Edinburgh's waterfront."

The park was originally approved as part of the area masterplan more than three years ago, but since then the designs have been radically altered, due to difficulties with what can and cannot be placed on reclaimed land.

Designers said the process of reclamation had effectively divided the park space in two – the northern area, reclaimed several decades ago, is able to support hard surfaces, larger trees and structures, while the southern portion, only recently reclaimed, is expected to see settlement of up to one metre over the next decade, making it unsuitable for trees or major structures.

The proposals are expected to be approved by the council later this year.