£5.3m work starts on 91 new homes to rent in December

The funding, from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), includes 2.2m secured by Bradford Council to build 29 affordable rental properties at Beech Grove in the Laisterdyke area of the city.

In total the value of the scheme will be more than 4.3m with the balance of the investment being provided by Bradford Council.

Work on the three, four and five-bedroom homes is scheduled to begin in December.

The Beech Grove scheme follows the start in March this year of the construction of 45 homes at Longfield Drive, West Bowling – the council's first housing scheme in 30 years.

Three housing associations schemes at Ravenscliffe, Gilstead and Barkerend, have also been backed by the HCA as part of more than 44.4m being distributed across Yorkshire and the Humber. As well as easing the demand for affordable housing, the developments are also expected to create up to 20 new construction apprenticeships for young people.

Bradford Council executive member responsible for housing Coun the Rev Paul Flowers said the funding would bring economic benefits to the district as well as the new homes. Coun Flowers said: "Our successful bid for HCA funding is excellent news for dozens of families who will benefit from the high-quality and affordable housing.

"There will be economic benefits for the district too, thanks to the number of apprenticeships which will be created which will help young job-seekers find employment.

"The funding for the housing association schemes is also very welcome given the positive impact they will have in addressing the demand for low-cost housing."

The criteria used by the HCA to assess the bids included value for money, design quality and sustainability. Across the region investment bid applications totaling 128m were made with 44.4m being distributed to fund about 970 affordable homes.

The housing associations which have been approved for funding are InCommunities, William Sutton Housing Association and Home Group Limited.