A fresh bid has been made to bring Asian treasures from the Victoria & Albert museum to historic Lister's Mill in Bradford.

It comes nine years after the museum's bombshell announcement that it could not raise the £21 million needed to begin relocating its precious Indian collection to the mill. The museum had decided four years previously that it would open a new North of England branch in the city's famous landmark. It would have brought world fame to the massive building in the heart of Manningham which is now dilapidated and empty.

Now Manningham Mills Community Association - which uses part of building and works closely with its new owners, Urban Splash - is trying to resurrect the scheme. Members believe it could play a leading part in Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The association has written to the museum's new director, Mark Jones, urging him to consider placing exhibits there. The letter from association chairman the Reverend George Moffatt points out there are communities from Kashmir, Bangladesh, the Punjab, and Pakistan living around the mill. It adds there are also Europeans in Bradford who fled violence and persecution in Poland, the Ukraine and Baltic states.

A North of England museum would deepen the understanding of races and religions across the country, says Mr Moffatt.

Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's executive member for the economy, said: "I support what the community is trying to do for the mill, which we would all like to see regenerated."

Award-winning Urban Splash wants to develop apartments with birds' eye views across the city, a call centre, leisure and culture facilities, and business units at the mill. The company says it can meet most of the £18 million cost of the first phase itself, but has applied to Government regeneration body Yorkshire Forward for help towards the remaining £5 million.

No one at the V&A was available for comment.