Birmingham's £10m makeover of Centenary Square has been branded dull, boring and unattractive as planning chiefs give the project the green light.

The revamp, which was the subject of a public design competition won last year by Edinburgh-based Graeme Massie Architects, will see a new shallow water feature, 43 25-metre lighting columns and other renovation work carried out in the popular square.

But it has not been to everyone's liking, with Conservative councillor Gareth Moore (Erdington) taking a final swipe at the redevelopment as planning permission was awarded.

He told the city council's planning committee: "This is a key centre for the city, a massive draw for the economy and something needs to be done to complement the Library of Birmingham and ICC.

"We need something attractive but what's been put forward is not attractive. It's dull, boring and not imaginative nor innovative.

"It's been described as 'exciting' but I have a different definition of 'exciting'. Despite asking them to improve them design, they have just stuck to their guns and it still looks cluttered."

The scheme has been blighted by controversy since the winning design was unveiled 14 months ago and has taken this long just to receive planning permission.

Councillors and members of the public have criticised the aesthetics of the winning design and questioned whether £10 million could be better spent elsewhere.

The project, which is due to start in January and finish in summer 2018, is being funded by a grant from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP enterprise zone.

There were also concerns the new pillars could impede access to the square which could prove problematic at Christmas when the big wheel and ice rink are in situ.

Coun Keith Linnecor (Lab Oscott) said: "I'm pleased there's been an agreement to have a dismountable pillar to give access to the ice rink.

"We need to see these events in our city which helps to generate business and tourism."

The issue of Birmingham's past record in managing public water features again reared its head at the meeting after the city council decided last year to fill in The Floozie in the Jacuzzi, in Victoria Square, with flowers after it became too expensive to maintain

Coun Linnecor added: "I hope people responsible for the water feature keep it correctly maintained as we don't want to fill it in with flowers in the future."

Concerns were also raised about the possibility of two sets of disruption, with the renovation of the square and then when the Midland Metro extension reaches Broad Street.

Head of planning management Richard Goulborn said he would speak to the relevant parties to ensure co-ordination of the works to minimise disruption as much as possible.

It was also confirmed that Remembrance Day parades could still continue in the square, there would be minimal alterations to the Hall of Memory - namely replacement of paving slabs and two stepped entrances replaced with ramps - and the Victoria Cross memorial stones would remain in the planting beds.

Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood previously hit out at the plans to move the stones and demanded architects went back to the drawing board.