BUILDING work has started on a new £8 million homes scheme in Menston.

Yorkshire house builder, Chartford Homes, is developing 12 four, five and six-bedroom detached homes on land at Bingley Road, at its junction with upper Cleasby Road.

Construction work on the two-acre greenfield site – allocated as building land by Bradford Council, which subsequently approved the planning application – is expected to take 18 months, with the first homes completed by the end of this year.

Chartford Homes, which specialises in niche sites in sought-after locations in West Yorkshire, acquired the plot, close to Menston, from a consortium of three private owners.

The homes, which will be built from stone and brick, have a contemporary design and will also feature private gardens, double garages and substantial high-specification living accommodation.

Chartford Homes managing director, Chris Thompson, said: "We are very pleased to be starting on site with our first scheme in Menston, which will provide high-quality luxury family homes for the local community.

“As well as being close to Menston, the scheme will have easy access to Ilkley, Bradford and Leeds, as well as being only a short distance from Leeds Bradford International Airport.”