A £1 million scheme to transform the area's neglected and derelict buildings has come a step closer with official plans for highways improvements revealed by Leeds City Council.

The council has also been taking enforcement action against a number of landlords that have allowed their buildings to fall into unacceptable states of disrepair.

In the first stage of an ambitious regeneration plan the council's highways department is proposing to make Chapel Hill one-way while improving the traffic signals on Brunswick Street and Asquith Avenue. Along with the improvement of the road networks, parking bays will be introduced and a pedestrian crossing installed.

Coun Robert Finnigan, who has been leading calls for regeneration, said a future phase would look at taking action to improve some of the buildings in Morley Bottoms, as well as considering the demolition of others.

"It has taken some time to pull the cash together but I am cautiously optimistic that a plan could be agreed before the summer," he said.

The clean-up plans have been boosted with the news that Leeds City Council's policy on issuing enforcement notices on untidy shops has been backed by the courts.

A shop owner who appealed against an enforcement notice served on them recently had his application rejected.

"Owners who allow their shop fronts to become run-down should be held accountable," Coun Finnigan said.

Coun Judith Elliott, chairman of the Morley Town Centre Partnership, added: "We are totally committed to the regeneration of Morley Bottoms and we will use all legal options available to us to make sure the legal obligations on untidy shops are complied with," she said.

Morley town centre manager Peter Mudge said some of the shops that have been empty for some time could be converted into housing.