One of Britain's leading architects has been approached about plans to transform Oxford Town Hall into a concert hall.

Sir Jeremy Dixon, best known for the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House in London and, in Oxford, for the Said Business School, has discussed the project with Maureen Christian, the Oxford city councillor responsible for culture.

The council wants to see the magnificent Victorian building renamed the City Hall, with the magnificent building revamped into an arts centre.

Mrs Christian, a member of the council executive, said: "We are investigating how we can bring people in with us, such as English Heritage, right from the beginning. We want to turn the Town Hall into a facility for the whole city.

"It is no longer used as much by the council now that so much of the council's business is done at area committees.

"It's a beautiful hall and it would be a question of improving the acoustics, decoration and so on."

She said Sir Jeremy was enthusiastic about the scheme and had put her in touch with some of Europe's leading concert halls.

Mrs Christian, a former Oxford Lord Mayor, said the scheme would be given real impetus if Oxford was successful in its bid to get on the shortlist for the 2008 European Capital of Culture Title.

Twelve cities are in the running for the money-making title, and major projects such as concert halls have been key factors in landing the prize in the past.