THE completion today of a two-phase development of 65 affordable family homes on a previously run-down site of flats has been celebrated with a key handover ceremony.

Incommunities’ Green Lane housing development on the edge of Bradford city centre has been three years in the making after work began in 2013 and finished in December last year.

Many of the homes in Trenton Drive were snapped up within weeks of their completion with the last ones released at the start of 2017.

The development had more than 2,000 applications from families wanting to live there.

A planning application for the third phase involving the demolition of a nearby parade of shops to make way for 14 family-sized homes has been lodged with Bradford Council.

Incommunities’ Group chief executive, Geraldine Howley said: “It is wonderful to see that residents are enjoying their new homes.

“The development has proved extremely popular with lots of enquiries from people keen to move into the area.

“As a social housing provider we are committed to providing high quality affordable new homes that improve lives and also brings the wider community together.

“It will be exciting to see phase three approved and completed because it will bring the whole development together and we all provide even more family homes.”

The development includes a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes, mainly for rent, with energy-efficient heating, individual gardens and driveways.

One family which secured one of the homes was Ulfat Naz and her young children who moved to the development from an Incommunities’ flat.

She said: “It’s a lovely property with good-sized rooms and just a short distance from where we lived before. Having a garden is brilliant for the children.”

Bradford West MP Naz Shah who was present at the opening ceremony added: “I am delighted to join Incommunities and residents at this exciting development and I am proud that Incommunities managed to secure the funding in these difficult and austere times.

“It’s great to see much needed family-sized affordable housing being delivered in this inner city area.

“Looking around these properties they are very pleasing on the eye and I am confident that this investment will breathe new life into the area.”

The £8.4 million development has been supported with funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and staff from Lumia Homes – the development arm of Incommunities – as the main contractor.