BRADFORD and the wider city region will need millions of pounds of Government cash to replace the European funding lost through Brexit, Bradford Council’s leader has said.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe spoke out as the Local Government Association revealed that local areas across the UK would need a replacement for £8.4bn of vital EU regeneration money once Britain left the European Union.

The Leeds City Region is getting around £300m in EU funding from 2014 to 2020, most recently securing a £6m investment to help local colleges give extra training to low-skill workers.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “Once we leave I want to make sure that Bradford gets its fair share of funding to support business, transport and skills.

“We just secured £6 million for supporting people into employment, for example, paid for from European funding.

“So we need to be assured that once we leave Europe that kind of financial support will still be available from national Government.

“We need powers to switch from Brussels to Bradford, not from Brussels to Whitehall or Westminster.

“Bradford has excellent global links and we need to make the most of those commercial opportunities but to do so we need Government investment to improve our transport connectivity.”

The Government has said a new funding body would be set up but the LGA, which remained neutral during the referendum, said details had so far been scarce.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, chairman of the LGA’s Brexit task and finish group, said: “With national funding for regeneration increasingly being depleted, all local areas have become increasingly reliant on EU money and local areas are desperate to get on with creating jobs, building infrastructure and boosting growth.”

Meanwhile, analysis from the Centre for Cities showed that Bradford’s economy would not be among those worst hit by Brexit.

The research showed that wealthier cities, including many in the south, would be the worst off.

But it showed that Bradford’s gross value added (GVA) - a measure of the value of goods and services - would reduce by 1.2 per cent with a ‘soft Brexit’, in which Britain was in a trade deal with Europe, or 2.1 per cent with a ‘hard Brexit’.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “All UK cities face significant economic challenges after we leave the EU, but the impact of both ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ Brexit will be felt very differently across the country.

“Contrary to much of the received wisdom on Brexit, it is the most prosperous UK cities which will be hit hardest by the downturn ahead – but poorer places across the North and Midlands will find it tougher to adapt.”

A Treasury spokesman said: “As the Chancellor said last year, the government will guarantee EU funding for all structural and investment fund projects agreed before we leave the EU - provided they are value for money and in line with UK priorities.

“This will ensure projects are not disrupted, no community misses out and gives British businesses, and potential investors, the certainty and stability they need to help us make a success of Brexit.”