PLANS to revitalise a stretch of land close to Huddersfield town centre have been warmly welcomed by a group of Kirklees councillors.

Details of the proposed £200m Waterfront Quarter were presented to a panel of councillors by the developer.

The Waterfront Quarter has been billed as Huddersfield's biggest-ever regeneration project.

It will transform a 12-acre site bounded by Manchester Road, Chapel Hill and Longroyd Bridge to provide more than 750,000 sq ft of housing, shops and offices.

The triangular site will feature state-of-the-art offices, residential apartments, restaurants, cafes, a hotel, a gym and a creche.

There will be public squares and tree-lined walks alongside the river and Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which runs through the site.

A canal basin will also be created and bridges built to link the site with other parts of the town.

It is hoped the development will create up to 2,000 jobs when completed.

Most of the site is occupied by Sellers Engineering, but it also includes Kirklees Council premises at West Riding House on Manchester Road and Grey Horse Yard behind the Rat and Ratchet pub - which is not included in the scheme.

Sellers Engineering plans to move to a smaller site.

Clr Andrew Cooper, leader of the Green Party on Kirklees Council, said the project was "great news" for his ward and would "transform what is presently an unremarkable stretch of land".

Clr Cooper said he wanted to ensure the scheme followed best environmental practice during its construction and operation.

Clr Mehboob Khan, leader of the Labour group, said: "This scheme has additional value - over and above establishing a striking Waterfront Quarter.

"A major transformational project like this puts Huddersfield in the same league as neighbouring cities, making the area an attractive investment proposition."

Council leader Clr Kath Pinnock said: "Ambitious transformational projects such as The Waterfront are indicative of the widespread private-sector confidence which exists in Huddersfield.

"This flagship development, together with other schemes being discussed, will put Huddersfield firmly on the West Yorkshire map and secure our economic future for years to come."

Clr Nigel Patrick, who chairs the council's scrutiny committee said he supported moves to regenerate Huddersfield and the surrounding area, but said the impact on traffic on approach roads and the town's ring road had to be considered.

Leeds-based architect DLG has also released a new image of how the scheme will look - DLG was chosen as lead architect for scheme following a design competition in January.

DLG has already designed mixed-use developments, including The Light in Leeds city centre and Broadway Plaza in Birmingham.

It is now working on a massive scheme to turn Quarry Hill, Leeds, into the city's new cultural quarter.

Developer Ramsden and Colne Developments will submit a detailed planning application for The Waterfront Quarter next month and hopes to get approval to begin work on site at the start of 2007.