Water laps up to the edge of Centenary Square and a pier links the City Hall area to the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Will Alsop's dramatic vision of Bradford in the year 2023.

Roaring traffic is replaced with a peaceful lake and a place to relax, gardens, lawns, apartments and quality shopping.

But is it a dream or a reality for a city which is already on the verge of major change with the demolition of most of the bottom edge of the city centre for the planned £200 million Broadway shopping scheme?

The message today to the public from Bradford Council's deputy leader and executive member for regeneration Councillor Simon Cooke is: "Everyone says we must do something. Here is someone saying 'here is something we can do'."

The masterplan was commissioned by the newly-formed Urban Regeneration Company last year and the final version will be produced after a second round of public consultation which will end at Christmas.

It will be the basis for all the work carried out by the URC, now called Bradford Centre Regeneration, over the years ahead to draw millions of pounds of investment to the city, with spin-offs for the entire district.

The internationally-renowned architect and his team say they came to Bradford and found a great city with its landscapes obscured by buildings and its water courses diverted underground.

Now they have come up with a radical vision of a city with a unique role and image setting it apart from its neighbours instead of being compared unfavourably.

The daring plan divides the city into four neighbourhoods - with City Hall at the heart of it The Grade One* listed building will stand in an oasis instead of what is virtually a traffic island.

Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration, described the masterplan as a giant picture frame which will be filled over the next two decades.

But she has stressed she wants the views of everyone - whether they like it or hate it - and has pledged they will all be taken into account.

Most of all, she hopes it will be inspirational and will get people talking in a city where many grandiose schemes have been proposed only to fail to get off the ground.

"The plan will be a 15- to 20-year journey. Regeneration does not happen overnight," said Mrs Marshall.

But she said Bradford Centre Regeneration was aware of the importance of capturing the imagination of the public in the first two years and aimed to make it a demonstration period.

Proposed projects include demolishing the former Odeon Cinema and replacing it with an eye-catching sensory garden.

The next five to seven years would be used for the acquisition and demolition of properties providing the platform for a rejuvenated city with landmark buildings and a booming economy.

Mrs Marshall said road schemes and traffic were seen as key to the rebirth of the city.

But even before the public consultations and meetings get down to the "nitty gritty" there are already differences between Council highways officers and the Alsop team over the city's road layouts.

Bradford Centre Regeneration also hopes the Broadway shopping scheme, being developed by construction giant Stannifer and the Forster Square development partnership, can be expanded to fit the footstep of the masterplan involving parks, leisure and culture.

When the first details were revealed at yesterday's executive committee meeting, Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said it was vital that the city's historic buildings were preserved.

"The plan looks space age and we don't want to make the mistake of knocking buildings down and later wishing we hadn't," she said.

Mrs Marshall said: "We are making a framework which we hope will capture the imagination.

"But we are not going to produce things which are fashionable and here today and gone tomorrow. We need to bring a richness of development and designers. They must be iconic."

Coun Cooke said: "This isn't just about us. It is about getting input from everybody else. People must give their opinions, whether good, bad or indifferent."

Committee members said they also wanted views from people outside the district and Councillor Phil Thornton, Labour spokesman for education, said it was important to get children's opinions and he wanted satellite exhibitions in the rest of the district.

Mrs Marshall said: "The company is fully committed to reaching as wide an audience as possible. They have a great deal of daring and inspiration and we commend it to you."

The committee agreed to support Bradford Centre Regeneration in conducting the fullest possible consultation about the master plan. Another report will go to members when the consultation is complete.