The Sea Pavilion could be built within three years

The Sea Pavilion - which would be built by the designers behind Cornwall's highly-successful Eden Project - would be erected four miles out to sea.

Special solar powered ferries would take up to 500,000 tourists out to the attraction in Rhyl every year.

It is hoped the attraction will create hundreds of jobs.

"The idea behind the sea pavilion is to provide a focus for the tidal energy scheme. We're looking to design it so it'll have an exhibition centre, an auditorium and public facilities such as bookshops and cafes," said architect Florian Eames.

"You'll be able to go out there by boat from Rhyl and see the actual whole thing working and because it's about sustainable energy there'll also be a wind turbine and a viewing platform," he added.

Tourism is vital to towns like Rhyl

The proposals are in the early stages, but those supporting it believe it could be just as popular as Cornwall's Eden project, which is described as a "living theatre of plants and people" .

Rhyl's coastline changed dramatically when an off-shore windfarm was erected earlier this year.

The new scheme would utilise the sheltered waters created between the windfarm and the shoreline as a marina.

The scheme is the brainchild of Dr Stuart Anderson, who works with the local charity Community Routes.

Wind turbine

He says the two-storey centre, which would house a major exhibition on offshore renewable energy, would be just one part of the scheme.

It would have flexible space to accommodate facilities like a cinema, auditorium, or research centre, as well as a comprehensive exhibition on renewable energy ideas.

Visitors would be brought up to the exhibition spaces via a lift operating from just above the high-tide level.

The pavilion will be built around an 80m demonstration wind turbine, which would have a viewing platform.

A new pier would also be built and a tram system installed.