A KEIGHLEY housing boss has described the Queen's Speech as "a missed opportunity".

Lee Bloomfield – chief executive of Manningham Housing Association, which manages homes in Keighley and Bradford – said he was disappointed that "the building of many new affordable homes and a more robust commitment to levelling up" were not included.

The Queen's Speech, which sets out the Government’s policy agenda for the year ahead, was delivered for the Queen by Prince Charles.

Mr Bloomfield said: "With the cost of living crisis really beginning to bite, I had hoped the Government would show more ambition by offering tangible support to those communities that will inevitably suffer most.

"A pledge to reform the planning system by giving residents more involvement seems designed to restrict house building rather than encourage it.

"I look forward to providing input to the legislation to improve the regulation of social housing.

"I also welcome the prospect of measures to drive local regeneration, but the people of Bradford and Keighley have repeatedly missed out when additional resources for regeneration projects are allocated. This includes transport, with the Queen’s Speech containing promises to modernise rail services, but hopes within the communities we serve won't be high."