Plans to build a new tramline linking the north and centre of Edinburgh are likely to be shelved following a row over the proposed route.

City of Edinburgh Council would prefer to run the extension from Granton via the Roseburn Path, but has faced strong opposition from campaigners and local residents.

An alternative line, which would run across Dean Bridge from Orchard Brae, was also under consideration, however a report before the local authority's transport and environment committee has recommended halting plans for now.

A separate southern-only extension, connecting Princes Street with the Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter development, is set to go ahead as a "priority".

A consultation on the plans for the line extension was launched in August last year.

It outlined two alternative routes as part of the latest phase of the Edinburgh Trams project.

One proposed sending the tramline along the Roseburn Path, a cycling and walking route which previously formed part of the now-defunct north suburban railway line.

Council officials recommended the path as the "preferred route" for the proposals, which were revised to include a line running alongside a pedestrian walkway.

However, those plans were at the centre of a row with campaigners, who claimed the proposed pedestrian route was "too narrow" and risked destroying local trees and wildlife.

Cost estimates for the Roseburn Path route were put at about £2.5bn.

The second option proposed sending the tramline via Orchard Brae and across the A-listed Dean Bridge at a cost of about £2.9bn.

That would have required work to ensure the 193-year-old structure, which forms part of Edinburgh's Unesco World Heritage Site, could bear the weight of the vehicles.

The council report found there were "public acceptability issues with both alternative routes".

It said a "strong business case" had been made for the project and the local authority should "retain ambition to deliver a mass transit connection between Granton and the city centre".

However, it added further work was required on route options before this section could be progressed.

The council's transport convener, councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said the Roseburn Path option remained the local authority's "preferred route".

He said the local authority has exhausted all other possibilities beyond the two suggested.

"It's not off the table and I would like it to be delivered," he said.

"My preference is the Roseburn Path route. I think it ticks the patronage number box, which obviously helps with future revenue. It's cheaper to deliver and it has a reduced engineering risk."

"But for now we are focusing on the southern route in the short to medium term because I think that's more likely to receive the support from a regional transport perspective to enable it to be delivered."

The southern section of the line, connecting the city centre and the hospital, is estimated to cost about £1.7bn, according to the committee report.

It would then head towards Newington and on to its terminus at the Royal Infirmary and via Cameron Toll.

North Bridge would have to close again while work was carried out, though it is unlikely to start until the end of the decade at the earliest.

Councillor Jenkinson said there would likely be a "strategic pause" while they wait for next autumn's SESTrans regional report to see if that unlocks the funding to pay for further work.

He said the local authority woild also seek support from the Scottish and UK governments.

The report found the southern route to "complement" work on Edinburgh's south suburban railway, which has been used by freight trains since stations closed on the line 64 years ago.

A feasibility study on restoring passenger services on that line is currently being taken forward by Transport Scotland and Network Rail.