SEVENTY-FIVE homes are to be built in the Colne Valley in a £5m scheme for new affordable rural housing.

The first phase will be 16 family homes for rent in Marsden, but the site has not yet been chosen.

The West Yorkshire Housing Association is set to embark on the five-year programme after arranging cash with Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking.

The programme is going ahead after intensive research to find exactly what sort of new housing is needed.

The association plans to work with a local development company to build the properties. It will be using the Bank of Scotland cash to build the Marsden homes.

The developments are planned to get under way in the spring of next year and will be near transport routes, shops and schools.

An association spokesman said: "There is a growing need for affordable housing among the Colne Valley communities.

"As well as providing new homes, we will be looking to champion local needs in partnership with local neighbourhoods, the council and other agencies," he added.

Neil Smoker, director of housing finance, Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking, said: "As one of the UK's leading funders to the social housing sector, we are delighted to reinforce our long- term relationship with the West Yorkshire Housing Association."

The association manages around 800 homes in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield.

It is a non-profit-making organisation with charitable status.

It provides a wide range of homes, including purpose-built flats for the elderly, small houses and flats for single people of all ages and larger houses for families.

The association manages single and family accommodation for people with disabilities.

Shared and self-contained supported housing has also been provided, to meet a diverse range of special needs in the community.