Bradford is set to be a major driving force in the economic regeneration of West Yorkshire - bringing hundreds of jobs to the county.

Martin Havenhand, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward - the regional development agency - today said the organisation's West Yorkshire headquarters would be based in Mercury House at the bottom of Manchester Road.

This puts the city firmly on the map in efforts to boost the local economy, including job creation and business support.

The RDA team will work with staff from Bradford TEC, Business Link Bradford & District and Bradford Council's Regeneration Division, also based at Mercury House.

The team will be responsible for creating hundreds of jobs and supporting businesses in Bradford and the rest of West Yorkshire.

The revelation came at a one-day consultation conference at the city's Alhambra Theatre, hosted by Yorkshire Forward.

The conference, in the Alhambra Studio, attracted 100 delegates from a variety of private and public-sector organisations from throughout the county.

Mr Havenhand said: "Our concern is that our staff go to where the business is - we do not expect people to come to us."

Bradford Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood, who was at the conference, said it was better to have the West Yorkshire office in Bradford away from the RDA's regional headquarters in Leeds.

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