SIX sites in Bradford have been identified as brownfield areas that could benefit from a multi million pound funding boost.

But the money earmarked for such developments in the District could be just half the amount allocated to schemes in neighbouring Leeds.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority was awarded a £67 million Brownfield Housing Fund by Government last year as part of the region’s devolution deal.

It is hoped that the fund will help to build 4,500 to 6,000 new homes across West Yorkshire over the next four years. The aim is to develop sites that have remained empty as they are otherwise too costly to develop.

Earlier this year landowners and developers were invited to suggest sites that could benefit from this funding.

Six such sites in Bradford will now progress to the next stage - although the location of these sites has so far been kept confidential, with the Authority arguing that announcing the sites could prejudice the funding.

At a meeting last month members of the Authority were given an update on the scheme, as well as detail of how the first two “waves” of funding would be distributed among the five Council areas that make up West Yorkshire.

In Bradford sites have been identified that could deliver up to 850 new homes. £9.68m of the Brownfield Housing FUnd could be allocated to make these sites suitable for development.

Housing cash must be spent on sites that have failed to attract investment

In Leeds the identified sites could deliver 2,162 homes, and attract £21.38m funding - more than double the amount Bradford would attract.

Kirklees could have sites for 759 homes and gain £11.44m in funding to develop these.

Calderdale identified sites for 403 homes (£8.24m) and Wakefield 392 homes (£4.29m).

Many of the potential sites identified could be used to deliver affordable housing.

The Telegraph & Argus asked the Combined Authority why the fund seemed to be providing double the amount of funding in Leeds compared to what Bradford would receive.

A Combined Authority spokesman said: “Expressions of interest to the BHF were received following a Call for Projects issued earlier this year.

“All schemes that expressed an interest were evaluated against the same criteria.

“Projects that scored higher in the evaluation process are being taken forward for further investigation and Business Case development ahead of projects that scored lower in the evaluation.

“Seven schemes in the Bradford area came froward expressing an interest in the BHF - of those six scored high in the evaluation process and are being taken forward for business case development and ultimately through the Assurance Process.

“In terms of projects in the Leeds area – we received a lot more expressions of interest and as such a number have been taken forward (seven schemes).

“However a number did not score high (seven schemes) and therefore are not being taken forward at this stage.

“Due to fluctuating market conditions within the housing market, and as business cases develop and due diligence is undertaken, some projects may ultimately not be successful in accessing the fund.

“In this instance other schemes may change their scope/programming which means they may be reviewed again.”