The result of a vote on controversial plans for Aberdeen’s city centre gardens will not be known until April 13, it has been announced.

Around 10,000 people responded to the eight-week public consultation into the Sir Ian Wood-backed plan to transform Union Terrace Gardens into a civic square.

The outcome will be learned two weeks after a funding deadline for Peacock Visual Arts’ project also planned for the gardens.

The offer of a £4.3million ‘linchpin’ grant from the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) for the contemporary arts centre expires at the end of March.

The SAC said it would review its position at the end of March.

Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef), who are steering the City Square Project, say the sheer volume of feedback from the inquiry into the proposed £140million scheme had delayed the result.

The civic square plan – backed by £50million of Sir Ian Wood’s own money saw Peacock’s plans grind to a halt.

The matter has divided opinion in the city with both sides publicising the benefits of their own projects.

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A public meeting held in Aberdeen last month concluded with both parties hopeful a compromise could be made.

Peacock had already secured planning permission and 75% of the funding required for its art centre project.

The City Square Project would see a five acre civic square built over the existing gardens, Denburn dual carriageway and the railway.