TEN tenants are putting the personal touches on their new homes under a partnership scheme to find local people a place to live.

They have just moved into the Otter Drive development in Hunters Hill, Unsworth, built on a former garage site.

All 10 properties — five two-bed homes, three three-beds and two bungalows — were snapped up within days of being completed by those on Bury Council’s waiting list.

The project is a successful partnership between Six Town Housing, St Vincent’s Housing Association and Bury Council, and is the first of several social housing schemes in the pipeline. Families were handed the keys to the door by the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Sharon Briggs.

As well as the keys, the new tenants were all given welcome packs — containing the essentials of tea, coffee and biscuits!

Cllr Rishi Shori, cabinet member for adult care, health and housing, said: “There is a shortage of affordable homes in Bury, and this top quality development will provide much needed affordable housing for local families. I’m sure they will enjoy living there.”

Sharon McCambridge, chief executive of Six Town Housing, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer these new high quality homes to our customers. The official opening of the development gave us the opportunity to celebrate with all the partners involved and to showcase how this great example of joint working is enabling us to provide more quality homes here in Bury.”

Charlie Norman, chief executive of St Vincent’s Housing Association, added: “We are very privileged to work in partnership with Bury Council and Six Town Housing to deliver such high quality and much needed homes in the borough. I hope the new residents at Otter Drive enjoy their homes and it was a pleasure to meet them at the open event.’