Cascades, computerised fountains and "walls" of water could all become realities in the new-look Bradford in the next few years.

Experts giving their views on Will Alsop's inspirational masterplan yesterday saw a 24-hour city which would cater for night owls and dawn risers and would give pleasure to everyone who used it.

The lake around City Hall could also materialise - but may be shallow with its own water supply to maintain its quality.

And iconic buildings would feature in a city which would have "stars" and "supporting casts" in terms of architecture.

The views of the masterplan drawn up by Mr Alsop were given at a seminar for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Yorkshire and Humber Region.

It was sponsored by Bradford Centre Regeneration - the company spearheading the renaissance - and attended by about 120 surveyors and other property professionals.

David Rudlin, from URBED, the consultants preparing the city centre design guide, described the masterplan as "fantastic inspiration" and said it could be made to work.

He said cities throughout Britain had "Del Boy" environments but needed more. "It is what raises the game," he added.

"We are trying to create a strategy which encompasses the Alsop plan but makes it practical."

The design guide, which will shortly go out for public consultation, will be used by planners and architects will be asked to justify what they have done. Quality materials will be essential and developers of large schemes will be urged to have independent design reviews.

Mr Rudlin said Bradford had suffered from 60s redevelopment but still had a legacy of fine buildings.

Zones for tall buildings had been included in the design guide and pleasant streets would lead into each other with no cul-de-sacs.

A tendency in the past to face buildings away from the road would be changed and a street caf culture encouraged.

Richard Bickers of Arups, the consultants working on Bradford's "liquid assets" including the proposed lake, said the features could bring movement, sound and music to the city and were places where people naturally congregated.

Most of the city's water is now beneath buildings but it could be treated as an asset to transform the city instead of being treated as an obstruction.

The conference was told that, while Bradford was enjoying the prestige of the world stage because of the masterplan, behind the scenes a vast amount of work was underway, including land assembly, feasibility studies, design guides and development frameworks.

Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration, said the design guide would be an "essential tool" in the delivery of the city's regeneration and transform it into a place where people chose to live, work and visit.