A leading Bradford developer's commitment to "keeping it local" has ensured that the construction of a state-of-the-art apartment building in Shipley has gone to an Ilkley construction company.

Newmason Properties, which has just completed the renovation of the Grade II listed Victoria Mills, has signed up Quarmby Construction Company (QCC) to build VM1, the first of three futuristic curved glass buildings on the site. The new buildings will house 200 luxury apartments.

QCC will move on site within a month to start on the 16 month project.

Newmason partner Andrew Mason said it was the company's philosophy to use local labour, goods and services. He said that 90 per cent of the work on the building, designed by Tony Lupton, of Beckwith Design, would be sourced in the Bradford district.

"It's a huge amount," said Mr Mason. "All the mechanical and electrical contractors, structural engineers, site supervisors, lawyers and accountants are all from firms with 01274 postcodes. It's quite parochial, really, but I say that in a positive way. After all there's no sense in bringing in glaziers from Manchester if we have them locally."

Mr Mason said that in QCC it had found a construction partner which shared Newmason's values and vision for outstanding quality. "We interviewed eight possible contenders and invited four of them to tender. QCC was outstanding," he said.

VM1 features sail-shaped elevators, hand-crafted interiors and other facilities including a gym and tennis courts. Around £2 million will be spent on gardens featuring red granite and pools.

QCC managing director David Jones said: "It's an exciting project and we feel privileged to be working with such a forward-thinking client. We are setting up offices next to Newmason's design team at Victoria Mills so that we can work hand-in-hand in developing VM1 to the letter of its very creative plans."