Mahatma Gandhi will be portrayed as a "thoughtful, determined, compassionate" man in a statue inspired by his 1931 trip to Number 10, proposals say.

The tribute to the civil rights leader, who studied in London, is planned to be erected outside the Palace of Westminster in Parliament Square.

The sculpture would stand between former prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Sir Robert Peel at a lower level. It is hoped it could be in place by early next year.

Designs of the bronze sculpture to be created by Philip Jackson, renowned for statues of the Queen Mother and Bomber Command, have emerged in documents submitted to Westminster City Council.

A wax model shows Gandhi wearing a shawl and dhoti with his hands clasped.

The planning application submitted by the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust, which lists its address as the House of Lords, notes: "Philip Jackson has said that his thoughts when producing the wax maquette for the Gandhi sculpture were centred on a number of photographs taken in 1931 on the steps of 10 Downing Street when Gandhi visited the then Prime Minister.

"Gandhi wore a slightly heavier shawl - against the British weather - over his dhoti which covered the entire top of his body - in India he was often bare chested.

"As he was on a semi-official visit he did not carry a stick. This, Philip thought, gave an appropriate image for Parliament Square.

"Gandhi is portrayed as a thoughtful, determined, compassionate man looking slightly downwards - towards the visitors that will come to see him in Parliament Square.

"His hands are gently clasped together and he stands with his weight on one leg giving the sculpture a slight lean to the left - as seen by the viewer - which will give the sculpture more animation."

The documents add the figure of Gandhi will be of similar scale to other statues in the square - life size and a half, measuring around 2.59 metres.

Chancellor George Osborne and then-foreign secretary William Hague announced the proposed statute in New Delhi, India, at Gandhi Smriti, a memorial on the site of his assassination, earlier this year.

The Government expects the new addition to Parliament Square will become a focal point for commemorations next summer on the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's return to India from South Africa to start the struggle for self-rule.

The plans also state: "It is intended that this Gandhi memorial will be funded by charitable donations to the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust."