A social housing landlord is opening a new base and moving hundreds of jobs to the Aire Valley.

Incommunities is moving up to 450 staff into The Quays on Victoria Street, near Shipley, in a move it says will save “hundreds of thousands of pounds” a year.

Last night, councillors, board members, social housing partners and business people went to the building’s opening by Incommunities group chief executive Geraldine Howley. They were joined by the chief executive of the National Housing Federation, David Orr.

Martin Smith, who was the housing group’s chairman from its launch in 2003 until March 2013, unveiled a plaque. Councillor Hawarun Hussain (Shipley, Green) said: “I think generally I’m quite positive about it. It brings more people into Shipley town centre and hopefully will regenerate some of the businesses in the town centre and I think it is in a good position for people to use public transport.”

Fellow ward Green Councillor Martin Love said extra people working a five-minute walk from the town centre had to be good news for Shipley shops.

The move has also been supported by the town’s Conservative MP Philip Davies.

He said: “It’s very welcome and it’s certainly good to have them there and bringing a building back into use and good for employment purposes too. I’m absolutely delighted.”

The opening of the new office coincides with the end of Incommunities’ lease of Trust House in Bradford and is in anticipation of other property leases ending over the next few years. Staff from the housing group’s Dudley Hill base and offices at Wrose Brow Road, Windhill, will relocate to The Quays next month.

Geraldine Howley said: “We anticipate the move will save us around £500,000 a year by the end of the decade – money that we will be re-investing for the benefit of our customers.”