Major proposals for shopping, leisure and hotels in Bradford city centre have forced the Council to draw up guidelines for developers - ahead of its major strategy due to be published in the spring.

The Council's regeneration committee was told last night an unprecedented number of sites were in the spotlight as developers homed in, sometimes with conflicting proposals.

They include the proposed redevelopment of Broadway and Cheapside, and counter plans by two other companies for the site of Rawson Market.

It has emerged Morrisons now have tentative proposals to extend across John Street for a scheme which would include a market. But another proposal is an extension from Kirkgate on to the Rawson Market site by another major company.

Coun Richard Wightman (Con, Rombalds) said: "The Council should be honest about whether it wants to stay in the markets business. The situation with Rawson has been handled appallingly."

But committee chairman Coun Dave Green said there had been scaremongering. "We intend to run and control the markets within Bradford and within the city centre,'' he said.

"Two prospective developers are willing to include the markets and we want to see a physical and financial package."

The new guidelines agreed by the committee mean companies will be told the Council's preferences, although they will not predetermine planning applications.

The Council will take into account issues like land ownership and Government strategy, although each case will be treated individually.

Coun Green said: "There is a bright future for the city centre and there needs to be an element of courage by the private sector.''

Some of the schemes the council are looking at include:

l Redevelopment of Morrisons on the site of John Street Market and a tentative proposal to extend development across John Street to include Rawson Market site.

l An extension from Kirkgate on to the Rawson Market site which could also include a market hall;

l Development of Broadway and Cheapside which could include a food store, car parking, a covered shopping mall and leisure.

l A 100-bedroom hotel and restaurant and bars at Provincial House.

l The Peel Centre on Canal Road - proposals by Tesco for a superstore, which would entail the removal of some existing businesses.

l The development of new shopping units at Sunwin House, Thornton Road. The development may include leisure.

l Four sites have also been suggested at Bradford for the district's first Asian shopping centre. It is understood that at least two are in the city centre.

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