Owners of fire-ravaged Eastbrook Hall have put it back on the market after trying to go it alone with an £8 million scheme for apartments, bars and restaurants.

Aldersgate Estates is blaming a lack of Government help with a funding shortfall for its failure to redevelop the historic building.

The company appealed to Bradford's MPs to support its bid to get a £1 million Government grant to fill the gap, but does not hold out any hope and has put the premises back on the market.

Aldersgate Estates claims it has been hit by a change in the way Government regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward helps companies to get major schemes off the ground.

Urban Splash, which is trying to redevelop Manningham Mills, faces a similar problem because it has a funding shortfall. The 'gap' funding system has been changed for a number of reasons, including a European ruling that it is a misuse of public funds.

It is being examined by a Government Select Committee and Yorkshire Forward is trying to work out a solution to assist the £18 million scheme to use Manningham Mills as apartments and offices.

But the redevelopment of Eastbrook Hall is said by the Little Germany Urban Village Company as crucial to the redevelopment of the urban village.

Urban Village Company project Director Nigel Rice said today they would press a new urban regeneration company - expected to be set up to revamp the city centre - to buy the building through a compulsory purchase order.

The proposed company - a joint venture between the Council and Yorkshire Forward - would be able to use other streams of funding, including European cash, to breathe new life into the city.

Mr Rice said: "Eastbrook Hall is key to the redevelopment of Little Germany and must be dealt with as a matter of priority."

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he wanted action on Eastbrook Hall and would do everything possible to help. But he warned the Government could not fund everything.

Aldersgate Estates bought Eastbook Hall more than four years ago for an estimated £500,000 and asked Yorkshire Forward to held fund a mixed use scheme including housing.

It was already damaged because fire had swept through the once magnificent hall in 1996.

Alan McMahon, of Aldersgate estates, said: "The problem has been because of funding changes and we hope the MPs will be able to help us, but we have got interest in the hall from other developers."

He said the company had been able to forge ahead with the redevelopment of 1960s Capital House in nearby Church Bank as a prestige office block costing £1.3 million. It will be renamed Church Bank House.