A conference centre containing some of the world's finest supercars should be up and running by next March, it was revealed today.

The Speedmaster Conference Centre in Greengates, Bradford, is aimed by project bosses at being the finest of its kind in the North of England.

Supercar dealer Speedmaster is converting the old weavers' shed at Albion Mills into a five star conference facility for 450 people, with a showroom in the foyer for up to 17 racing cars of all vintages.

In order to create the "wow factor", the building has been given a new glass front while, inside, two iconic glass staircases will link the upstairs conference facilities with the supercar showroom downstairs.

The building, complete with a mezzanine floor, will also contain a museum to honour Great Britain's finest racing drivers, including inspirational stories, anecdotes and images to reflect the illustrious careers of Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn and Nigel Mansell.

Project director Peter Blackburn said cars would be loaned to the showroom for temporary display, and that he was hopeful of securing Lewis Hamilton's F1 car for a short period.

Speedmaster's collection of exotic high-performance cars, which will move into the new facility once it opens, includes a BRM Scirocco F1 car, built in 1963, and an Aston Martin DBR4/250 grand prix car, built in 1959.

Visitors will be able to dine in the centre or participate in meetings while overlooking millions of pounds of machinery, including a Sunbeam three litre TT, valued at £550,000.

Mr Blackburn said the idea was to create a "spectacular and unusual" environment for people who wish to hold annual meetings, weddings or large conferences.

He said: "There is no expense spared for the design of the building. People will walk in and their attention will be grabbed by the cars on the ground floor, then they will look up and see the glass staircases with the conference facilities above. It will have the wow factor and there will be nothing like it in the north of England.

"Nothing about it will be normal. We are trying to make it as different as possible. We want it to be awe-inspiring."