Having visited Eastbrook Hall in 2001 he was keen to see for himself how the "Phoenix had risen from the ashes.''

The potential for the hall's renewal struck him powerfully at the time and at his behest, his Prince's Regeneration Trust, together with Aldersgate Estates, English Partnerships, regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, Bradford Council and Bradford Centre Regeneration, began a painstaking restoration.

The building, formerly the Methodist Cathedral of the North, was opened in 1904 but had been derelict since the 1980s. A fire in 1996 left it roofless and burnt out.

Millions of pounds have been spent on rejuvenating the building which now houses 72 apartments and 800 sq metres of retail and commercial space.

Earlier in the day the Prince visited another regeneration project, in Sowerby Bridge, Calderdale, as well as a stop at Sheffield Forgemasters International to unveil a commemorative stone.

He took a close-up look at some of the heaviest of British heavy industry when he toured the massive steelworks to see how it had recovered from devastating floods.

The Prince was making a second visit in 18 months to the company. Last year he went to see the damage for himself just days after the plant was left under 5ft of water when the Lower Don Valley was affected by the worst flooding Sheffield has ever seen.

Finally he visited the £4.5m Cottingley Cornerstone Centre in Bradford, which includes 55 houses and extensive community facilities