Plans to create a £9m music and arts centre in Ripon have been unveiled.

The facility at Cathedral Choir School, in Ripon, would include an 850-seat concert hall, plus smaller performance and teaching rooms.

Headmaster Richard Pepys hopes the centre will benefit pupils and residents in Ripon.

He said: "We get by with the facilities we have at the school but they are not as good as they could be.

"In Ripon, there is also a lack of any decent performance venues.

"This is an opportunity at the Cathedral Choir School to build something that would enhance the school and enhance Ripon."

It is hoped a planning application can be submitted later this year, with the building to be completed during the 2006/07 academic year.

The project would be funded by a combination of grants, fundraising, borrowing and the school's funds.

"It will cost a lot of money but we wouldn't be going into this unless we felt it was something we could do," said Mr Pepys.

"There are always circumstances beyond your control but if you don't have a dream of what you want to achieve, nothing will happen."

Groups including Ripon Rowel Players, Ripon Amateur Operatic Society, the St Cecilia Orchestra and Ripon's sports and leisure clubs are all being consulted on the plans.

The school is also discussing the development with the Ripon City Partnership, whose 2020 Vision statement focuses on creating performance areas and venues in the city.

Fiona Sullivan, the partnership's 2020 Vision project manager, welcomed the school's plans.

She said: "Ripon has many things going for it, including marvellous heritage and beautiful countryside, but it has no decent concert hall for exhibitions and theatre performances.

"We welcome groups who want to move forward to establish facilities, especially if they feel they have access to funding."

The partnership aims to create a "cultural quarter" in Ripon and believes the Cathedral School's plans fit with this vision.