A NEW £4.3 million affordable housing scheme has been officially opened.

The Odette’s Point development, in Shann Lane, Keighley, comprises 14 three-bed and six four-bed detached and semi-detached houses for social rent.

Manningham Housing Association spearheaded the project – in conjunction with Avant Homes, Homes England and Bradford Council.

Sustainability was central to the design of the properties, which are constructed to be low maintenance and have a reduced carbon footprint. Several of the homes feature solar panels.

Councillors, project partners and some of the new tenants joined Manningham Housing Association board members and staff at the opening ceremony.

The ribbon-cutting was performed by association chair Rupert Pometsey and former long-serving board member and customer panel chair, Cath Bacon.

Mr Pometsey said: "I would like to thank the staff and partners who have worked so hard to make this possible.

"I have been around some of the properties and what strikes me is how happy the tenants are to be in their new homes.

"Manningham Housing Association was created as a result of overcrowding in Manningham itself. The association started off with two houses, and now owns and manages 1,400 properties.

"Our work is not done, because the demand is huge. With the support of partners and the board, we hope to be able to do much more, as our communities rely on us."

Lee Bloomfield, the association's chief executive, says: "This project has been made possible by a strong collaboration between Manningham Housing Association, Avant Homes, Homes England and Bradford Council. The support of Bradford Council is particularly vital in aligning with the core strategy target for new homes in Keighley by 2030.

"We are also excited about our involvement with the Unity Community Development Consortium, a recently-established partnership tasked with supporting housing associations and community groups to build new affordable housing in Yorkshire.

"Our membership will allow us to access further grant funding and continue our work supporting communities in Keighley and Bradford."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, who attended the opening with Keighley Central ward councillors Mohsin Hussain and Amjad Zaman – says: "It was great to visit Odette’s Point to see the fantastic new homes that have been delivered.

"We need more good houses at affordable and social rents, and meeting some of the families enjoying their new homes really showed how important delivering quality housing is."