Bradford

Bradford isn't unique on the shithole front and to be fair some id the metropolitan District is decent. But the city I remember as Bradford doesn't exist anymore, the area where my parents live in Wrose hasn't changed much but the areas I spent most of my time have.

 

It can't change. A lot of it has to do with its geographical location, there's a reason they didn't build a through rail line all those years ago, the cost was astronomical and for little economic benefit. From an infrastructure point of view Bradford was dying a long time ago and post 70s when it was clear regeneration was the only way forward Leeds was the area to benefit rather than Bradford due to this. When I was at construction college back in the late 80s early 90s the architect who lectured us told us back then Leeds had 5x the amount of prime building land that Bradford had and if you were to build a new city from scratch now the location of Bradford is probably the least desirable area to build one. Leeds doesn't have the building constraints of the pennines tied to its backside. We are the youngest City in the country built off the back of the industrial revolution, unfortunately that 150 year old infrastructure is also a noose around the neck, it can't be changed without huge cost that you cannot recoup. Better to spend the money elsewhere, it's the reason there is so much construction with houses and business along the m62 and m1 and within reach of major rail networks. Its why companies like Lavers are eventually moving, who wants to spend the best part of half an hour just getting your goods to the motorway network?
You need to fotget this idea it's the people's fault that Bradford has been in steady decline, business dictates that not the folk who live there.