A national housing association Accent Housing is to sell its Shipley headquarters, it has been announced.

The organisation, which began in Bradford in 1966, plans to sell Charlestown House, its current head office at the Acorn Business Park in Shipley.

It follows a move to more flexible working for its employees since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Accent is now seeking new premises to retain its roots in the city.

In a statement announcing the plans, the organisation states that the move to new offices premises comes as it “embraces a dynamic approach to ways of working in the aftermath of Covid-19”.

“The move will seek to offer employees better transport links to the head office, an inspiring, collaborative working environment, while also considering the best value for money in order to best deliver to customers.”

It goes on to say that Accent has strong links with the city of Bradford and “plans to build on this heritage by moving within the city”.

Chief executive of Accent Paul Dolan said: “Like many organisations, the way we work has changed dramatically in the wake of Covid, but our Bradford heritage remains a massive part of who we are.

“We’re a national housing association with homes spread across the north, south and east of England, but retaining a base in Bradford is central to our plans looking ahead.”

Accent Housing is behind the £18.5 million redevelopment of the Ripleyville 1907s housing estate off Manchester Road.

The scheme involves demolishing 163 homes in order to build 73 affordable houses in their place – and it was approved by Bradford Council last year.

At the time the firm said the new homes will bring “long-lasting regeneration, sustainability and opportunity to the local and wider community and address the historic issues the site has had”.

The homes are expected to be completed by the summer of 2024.

It is also behind a development of 48 homes at Harrogate Road in Eccleshill.

These are part of the organisation’s commitment to build at least 1,500 affordable rented and low-cost home ownership homes by 2024.

Accent Housing provides homes and services to more than 35,000 residents in more than 20,500 homes across the north, east and south of England.