Residents of part of inner-city Bradford are being given the chance to air their views on how to boost employment in their community.

Bradford Council has asked a team of regeneration experts to draw up a masterplan on how Mann-ingham could be improved.

GVA Grimley is leading the team of experts who are drawing up a vision of how they see the area in 2020.

Linda Raynor, the firm's principal consultant, said: "The community in Manningham will be closely involved in the master planning process.

"It is important that they have a real stake in its outcomes and how it is delivered."

Unemployment in Mann-ingham is high, with 13.7 per cent of people in the area out of work compared to the national average of 4.8 per cent.

Mrs Raynor said: "We will be looking at creating local jobs for local people, as well as other things such as improving community facilities and providing app-roved choice of housing."

The company is to carry out a detailed survey of residents' attitudes and will be asking 250 households what they think about Manning-ham's future.

A series of community walkabouts, focus groups and workshops will follow in the autumn.

Local businesses will be involved in the consultation and a business forum is being organised.

GVA Grimley is working with Urban Splash, the firm responsible for the conversion of Lister's Mill, and Invest in Bradford, a partnership between the Council, Chamber of Commerce and Jobcentre Plus.

Mrs Raynor said: "We have talked to Urban Splash and there are some very exciting project ideas that are emerging from those discussions.

"We are very excited by the quality of work that Urban Splash and their architects are doing."

James Murgatroyd, manager for Invest In Bradford, said: "We are responsible for making it as simple as possible for people and businesses to invest in the city.

"The work that GVA is doing will help to contribute to the work that we are doing across the district in Manningham.

"Anything that helps to create a structure that makes it easier for people to invest here, we welcome."

The masterplan area covers 4,000 homes and is due to be completed by the end of this year.