A LABOUR Government would prioritise house building on brownfield sites to protect the greenbelt, a shadow minister pledged during a visit to Keighley.

John Healey, Labour Shadow Housing Minister, added that the Government would invest to build over a million homes during the course of the Parliament.

"We will start work on a new generation of 'new towns' to build the homes we need and avoid urban sprawl," he said.

"For private renters, we'll end insecurity by introducing controls on rent increases, more-secure tenancies, landlord licensing by councils such as Bradford and new consumer rights."

During his visit, Mr Healey viewed the site of the new housing development to be built by Wildgoose Construction at the former Bronte Middle School, in Bogthorn.

Fifty-one houses are being built, including 18 to be let directly by Bradford Council.

There will also be 62 extra-care apartments, providing accommodation for elderly and disabled people who want to maintain independent living but with on-site support available.

He visited the plot with Labour's Keighley Parliamentary candidate John Grogan and Keighley West district councillor, Adrian Farley.

Mr Grogan said: "I know there was a strong campaign to keep the Bronte School site for educational use, but that was lost some time ago.

"Looking to the future, I think this development will prove to be a good example of Bradford Council and the private sector working together to deliver the homes for sale and affordable rent that are so badly needed.

"During the last Labour Government there was a policy of brownfield first which under John Prescott got the proportion of new housing built on brownfield land to a historic high of above 70 per cent.

"If elected as Keighley's MP, I will certainly be making this issue one of my top priorities."