Social housing in Bradford is about to share in an £18 million cash injection.

Yorkshire Housing Group, the largest Yorkshire-only housing provider, is teaming up with the Brunel and Family Housing Association, which has thousands of Bradford tenants, to form Brunel Housing.

YHG manages 14,500 properties across the region but only a handful are in Bradford - so the move will boost the group's presence in the district to include Brunel's 2,500 homes.

The groups' bosses say it is good news for the district which will now see more investment in homes.

Bill Payne, chief executive of the new group, said the district's £18 million sum comes from efficiency savings, Yorkshire Housing budgets and borrowing on the strength of the joint housing group.

He said Brunel's Bradford properties made it an attractive target for YHG: "We genuinely do think that Bradford has an exciting future and we want to be a part of it."

Mr Payne said the investment will raise the quality of life for thousands of people, with improvements on the majority of the Brunel homes taking place over a three-year period, starting in April.

A final total has not been set since that will depend on the outcome of consultations with tenants - a process which has already begun.

However, some improvements are beginning immediately and include everything from the complete renovation and re-letting or selling of derelict properties, to the more routine replacement of windows and doors, kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems.

Unpopular bedsits, many in Manningham, will be among the first to be tackled, some being converted to modern apartments and others into family homes.

Mr Payne said: "This is a great start to the New Year for Brunel and its customers. As well as improving homes we will also be improving the environment around the homes and working hard to help build stronger communities."

More than a year ago the Government's housing association watchdog sent in a team to help run Brunel and Family Housing Association after the Audit Commission labelled it a 'cause for concern'.

That supervision is still in place, but Mr Payne said: "This is a new start for Brunel Housing and there is much work to be done in winning the confidence of customers and we intend working closely with them so that their views are taken on board when services are designed.

"I would ask customers to judge Brunel Housing on what is delivered over the next three years and not on problems that have existed in the past."