Office space, a restaurant, a café, town houses, flats and underground parking will be among features on the Hopwood Lane gateway site.

Calderdale Council and the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward will fund the multi-million pound project which will involve making some compulsory purchase orders.

Chester-based developer Cityheart has been chosen to carry out the project by Calderdale Council, which says it was impressed by their design aspirations and how they would complement the listed buildings on the site, some of which are believed to date from as long ago as the 16th century.

The site is in a poor state and councillors are anxious to see it improved following the regeneration of the nearby Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, as more people now pass Hopwood Lane on a daily basis.

Such is the dilapidation of properties in the area that already emergency repairs costing £500,000 have been carried out on some of the older buildings in a project completed last month.

Coun David Kirton, portfolio holder for regeneration and dev-elopment, said: "The Hopwood Lane gateway project contrib-utes to a number of key council priorities. It will improve the en-vironment and help to create a dynamic and vibrant town centre.

"We have been very impressed by Cityheart's proposals and feel sure that this partnership will be positive and beneficial for Halifax."

Dave Custance, head of strategic development and property for Yorkshire Forward, said it was a key site in the centre of the town.

"Its regeneration will be a flagship project within Yorkshire Forward's renaissance programme," he added.

Cabinet member Coun Craig Whittaker said: "It looks very exciting; there is a nice mixture in the proposals and the underground parking looks good.

"We have committed £1m so far and I understand Yorkshire Forward will provide a similar figure in match funding. Without question it will regenerate the area.

"This site is on an approach to the town centre and it is in an awful state so this will transform the gateway into Halifax.

"There is going to be some compulsory purchase orders necessary so by the time they kick off physically on the site I expect it will be 18 months to two years' time.''

But Janet Battye, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Calderdale Council, sounded a cautionary note.

She was concerned to make sure the council was capable of carrying the scheme through after a series of projects which the council had struggled to complete.

Sugden's Mill in Brighouse town centre was terminated after a public inquiry; The Shay stadium development in Halifax, is yet to begin; and Halifax's Broad Street project, is also yet to start.

"I want it to actually happen on time and on budget,'' she said.

Veteran critic of Calderdale's management-making process Coun Paul Rogan (English Democrats, Rastrick) said he shared her concerns.

He said: "If this was a football match Calderdale Council would be at least 3-0 down.''