Bradford's £200 million Broadway shopping scheme has received a boost with the announcement that investment is on the way with the help of the city's new Urban Regeneration Company.

Martin Havenhand, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, said at Bradford Rotary Club lunch that he was sure public funds would be put into the scheme which hit problems in December over a gap in funding needed.

"I am sure we will be investing in Broadway through the URC," he said.

The URC - a joint venture between Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward - has commissioned architect Wil Alsop to design a masterplan for the city.

Mr Havenhand said it would provide a vision for the city's renaissance. He added that Yorkshire Forward had been accused of failing to support the shopping scheme when it said it could not give financial support in December.

"It simply is not true. At the time we were concerned it might not offer value for money," he said.

Mr Havenhand also announced good news for Bradford Bulls and the £13 million Odsal Stadium redevelopment.

"Yorkshire Forward is committed to removing contamination there to aid development and be a real asset to Bradford," he said.

The redevelopment of Manningham Mills also received praise from Mr Havenhand, who said it would regenerate a poor area.

Negotiations between Yorkshire Forward, Bradford Council and the developers have finally achieved a package which can give funding towards the scheme.

Mr Haverhand described Bradford as a "sleeping giant" however and said the city was not fully utilising its strengths.

"It was the wool capital of the world and we can still use its mills to regenerate and rebuild," he said.