A HOUSING boss has hit out at the Government's levelling-up White Paper.

Lee Bloomfield – chief executive of Manningham Housing Association, which manages homes in Keighley and Bradford – says the document "contains blurred aspirations and little real investment for left-behind communities".

He said: "The Government promised to make swift progress in improving the quality of life of people living in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.

"Whilst I accept that Covid-19 has hindered progress, it did buy ministers more time to transform their campaign slogans into a carefully-considered and detailed plan for major investment in left-behind communities.

"Instead we have a long-winded, unfocussed document with blurred ambitions.

"Bradford district has been at the sharp end of an endless stream of broken promises over many years, most recently when commitments to build a new Northern Powerhouse rail link between Leeds and Manchester – including a through station in Bradford – were found to be empty.

"Young people from Bradford and Keighley – including large numbers from BAME communities – want the chance to achieve their potential through greater access to educational opportunities, more good jobs and many more affordable homes.

"I fear that they've been let down yet again."