Bradford Council's regeneration supremo has accused civic leaders in Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester of jumping the gun with a plan for a "super city" to rival London.

Councillor Andrew Mallinson, executive member for regeneration, said such a scheme was premature, despite a case existing for closer collaboration across the north of England in order to boost economic prospects for local communities, including Bradford.

He said a masterplan, such as the one put forward by Sheffield, was sound in principle but would rely on the north winning more political power and control from London and the south east.

To succeed, such a "super city" would require more devolvement of political power and control over funds.

Coun Mallinson said regional development agency Yorkshire Forward was considering handing over more control of economic development funding to local councils but had not yet worked out how to share out the cash. It could be on the basis of population, or economic performance. He said: "From an economic regeneration point of view we will keep a close eye on the super city idea, as Bradford would need to be part of the process if it went ahead.

"But I believe it is too early to start talking in detail about such a masterplan while we have yet to see how local authorities can work more closely and coherently together, and while much development work remains to be done, for instance improving links between the north's two key ports of Hull and Liverpool."

Mike Cartwright, head of policy at Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said UK regions faced an enormous challenge in achieving critical economic mass, with cities such as Beijing, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro growing by the size of London every ten years.

He said: "What has been proposed appears to be an extension of the city regions put forward by the Northern Way, which suggested the development of an economic region enveloping Yorkshire, the north east and the north west.

"From Bradford's point of view, whatever scheme eventually happens, we've got to be on the bandwagon to ensure the city's economic future."

Leeds business leaders have welcomed the masterplan launched by Sheffield which focuses on Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield working together to create a northern economic growth pole to rival that of London, the south east and Europe with a population of seven million people and an economy worth £120 billion.

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