A HOUSEBUILDER with schemes in Keighley and Cullingworth says there is "much to be positive about" in 2017.

Barratt Developments Yorkshire West is forecasting another successful year, during which it plans to launch seven more sites in the region – providing 900 homes.

Its existing schemes include Vision at Braithwaite and Hewenden Ridge, Cullingworth.

Managing director, Ian Ruthven, said: "Although there remains some uncertainty around Brexit and Article 50, the mortgage market is very strong – with historically low interest rates and powerful Government support for homebuyers in the form of Help to Buy.

"A Housing White Paper has been promised and we are hopeful it will set out policy to bring more land forward for new homes.

"This will help the Government to hopefully hit its target of building one million more homes by 2020.

"Having increased our own output by 50 per cent in the past five years, we will continue to work really hard to maintain our customer satisfaction rating.

"We look forward to what should be a successful year."

He added that Help to Buy, which enables people to purchase a new property with just a five per cent deposit, was set to continue until 2021.