The hope is to produce a master plan which is both imaginative and achievable.

"It is about breathing new life into the heart of the Piece Hall and ensuring that the space is used creatively," said council leader Ann McAllister.

"The grade one listed building is an important element in successfully regenerating the whole town centre and I am keen to move this forward so that it plays a major role in Halifax's Renaissance," she said.

The cabinet will be asked on Monday to commission consultants to come up with detailed proposals for the Piece Hall and nearby land and buildings, and to create links with the railway station and the Eureka Children's Museum.

Talks with the museum trustees will continue in the hope of developing the Great Northern Railway shed and the former Horses at Work Museum, on Discovery Road.

A competition for leading architects has been scrapped because it could have delayed progress.

Instead, it was felt there was a need to develop the vision in the Halifax Renaissance programme into a deliverable strategy or master plan for the town centre, said regeneration and development director Ian Thompson.

That will lead to new guidelines about what might be built where, including making the Piece Hall into a sort of foyer for the rest of the town.

In a report to the cabinet, Mr Thompson said he expected the plan would take about eight months to put together, following the appointment of specialists.

The council expects to receive help from Yorkshire Forward to cover the costs involved which are put at about £320,000.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Lottery Fund has promised £600,000 for improving the Piece Hall once a sustainable plan for restoring and regenerating it is in place, although the total bill could be closer to £4 million.

"There is an opportunity to attract significant funding from other agencies but the council will still be expected to invest a substantial sum to make the Piece Hall project successful," said Mr Thompson.

Halifax MP Linda Riordan welcomed news of developments around the Piece Hall but was concerned about the Piece Hall itself.

"My fear is that without a vision for this remarkable piece of archictecture, what ought to become the 'jewel in the crown' of any development, could become its 'dead centre'. I would like to see some concrete, costed and creative plans which will finally recognise the fact that Piece Hall really is one of the great buildings of England."

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