The man charged with bringing new life to Bradford today labelled the central police station as the worst building in the city.

Wil Alsop described the Tyrls police station as a "mortal sin".

But he added: "Bradford has some wonderful architecture - it's the bits in between which are negative."

The building is expected to go on the market when police move out to state-of-the-art offices likely to be built in Nelson Street.

There have already been calls from politicians for it to be demolished to make way for a major cultural building, such as a concert hall.

The central police station was dubbed "the most modern police station in Britain" by the Queen when she opened it in November 1974. She told a delighted crowd: "This is a splendid building."

But 28 years later it has been condemned as a blot on the landscape by the man whose team will play a major part in revitalising the city.

And a leading councillor has agreed the Tyrls is a blot on the landscape.

Councillor Clive Richardson, a member of West Yorkshire Police Authority and chairman of Bradford Area Planning Panel, said: "I have already said to the chief constable it is the lousiest building I know and how anybody could have designed it is beyond me.

"It is the biggest blot on the landscape and personally I want to see it demolished."

Mr Alsop also criticised traffic engineers and said they had had a "field day" which had created a disjointed city.

He said car use in the city centre was likely to be contentious, but that cars should not be banned - just used in moderation.

"The worst of all the buildings and a mortal sin is the police station which is in a very strategic and important part of Bradford," said Mr Alsop.

The senior partner of Alsop Architects, of London and Rotterdam, was speaking out for the first time since his company won the prestigious job of creating its master plan for the city.

The company has created award-winning projects across Europe and was picked by Bradford's new Urban Regeneration Company (URC) from a high calibre shortlist of master planners.

The £500,000 blueprint will be the basis for the company's plans for the multi-million pound regeneration of the city.

Mr Alsop said: "I am delighted and excited to be involved in the new Bradford. It is an intriguing challenge to take this great northern city forward in to the 21st century with a caring vision.

"The city has enormous potential and this project aims to lay the foundations for major new investment, high quality development opportunities and help capture a new sense of community pride in the way forward."

The company's brief will be to develop a comprehensive plan which connects different elements of the city centre, including economic development, transport and cultural activity.

The company has been told it must: define the current and future economic role of Bradford; identify key opportunities in different sectors, including retail, leisure, business and housing; and link the work of different agencies, partnerships and programmes.

Recent planning projects by Alsop include Manchester's Millennium Village, for the Commonwealth Games, and Leicester city centre.

Sir Graham Hall, chairman of the URC board, said: "The board's appointment of Alsop Architects is a critical first step in planning the long-term regeneration of this great city. They will bring valuable experience and objectivity to the challenge ahead."

Bradford Council leader and URC board member, Councillor Margaret Eaton, welcomed the appointment and said: "A vibrant city centre will bring wider benefits to other parts of the district."