A showpiece development designed to kick-start Bradford's regeneration is at a "critical stage" in the planning process, it was revealed today.

Independent reviewers are ready to scrutinise plans for the £350 million Bradford Channel scheme, near Forster Square, after negotiations between the developer and planners broke down.

The team behind the proposals, Bradford Channel limited (BCL), say they have "compromised enough" on the proposed height of the buildings during long-running discussions with Bradford Council's planning department.

If the landmark scheme had to be further diluted it would lose its striking element and would no longer be viable, according to BCL.

The Urban Economic Development Group (URBED) has just been appointed as the independent consultant charged with the task of deciding if the scheme needs to be further revised or is acceptable in its current form.

URBED will hold a workshop involving all interested parties in a fortnight, before reporting back with their recommendation in the first week of October.

BCL are desperate not to make more concessions, having already made major revisions to the scheme's two iconic tower developments, with the office tower reduced from 22 storeys to 13 and the residential tower down from 25 storeys to 22.

The wrangling over the height of the towers comes at a time when Leeds City Council looks set to grant planning permission for the 52-storey Lumiere development.

"It's an interesting contrast. I don't think Bradford is ready for anything like that, but it is certainly ready for a 20-odd storey development," said Harold Robinson, chairman of Magellan Properties, which fronts the BCL partnership.

"The major cities throughout the world are competing for the tallest building. We are not part of that competition, but Bradford has got to start somewhere," he said.

The ten-year Channel scheme, which would require 250 construction workers during the first phase, would see the creation of a large canal basin surrounded by 2,600 apartments, about 30 shops, bars, cafes, gyms, creche, a hotel and offices.

The scheme forms a strategic part of the city centre masterplan, as the 1.25 hectare site takes up the lion's share of one of the four neighbourhood quarters pinpointed for regeneration.

Mr Robinson said: "It's a critical time for the scheme. We hope URBED will report back with a recommendation that's acceptable to us, Bradford Centre Regeneration and the planning authority.

"We would have liked to have done what we originally proposed, but we still think what we have now will create an image of a 21st century urban village.

"We have still got one tower which will be visible for people coming down Shipley-Airedale Road or from Broadway, so people will know we are here.

"We think we have compromised enough. Any more and it loses its striking element and if we compromise more the viability of the scheme is also brought into question."

Bradford Council said it would be "inappropriate" to comment with the review pending. A spokesman said the council would respond once the results of the review were known.

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk