The existing Rose Street site will be freed up for redevelopment when the Todmorden Health Centre moves to the new building on Halifax Road.

Todmorden ward Calderdale Councillor Ian Cooper, and chairman of the project management board established to create a town centre development brief, said he was delighted at Calderdale's decision to support the Todmorden initiative.

"The inclusion of the Primary Care Trust site at Rose Street into the overall document brief is fundamental to achieving the wider aspirations for Todmorden and its regeneration. This is a tremendous opportunity to establish a joined up strategy for the whole of the town and I'm looking forward to working with the board to achieve that objective."

The project management board, made up of local representatives and councillors, will look at opportunities to breathe new life into several sites including Tipside, the former Abraham Ormerod Centre and former Netto building.

The Rose Street site is surrounded by council owned land and will provide a major redevelopment opportunity in terms of regenerating the town centre. A number of options to fund the purchase are currently being considered.

Councillor David Kirton, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Development, said: "This site is crucial to the regeneration of Todmorden town centre. The purchase of this building will be critical to the delivery of the main aims of the development brief which is currently being drawn up.

"Once the brief has been produced it will go out to consultation before coming back to the project board and then cabinet.

"The Todmorden town centre project will help to foster economic prosperity and improve the quality of the local environment."