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Bury Council Decent Homes drive nears completion

Wednesday, 22 December 2010
in

A multi-million pound programme to bring Bury Council’s housing up to scratch is nearly complete.

Thousands of homes across the borough have been transformed with £57 million of improvements in the last six years.

The work has been carried out by Six Town Housing, the arm’s-length company which manages the council’s 8,000 houses.

In January 2006 it won a 2-star rating from the Audit Commission which brought in an extra £27 million to bring houses up to the Decent Homes Standard.

The programme is due to end this month with roofing works in St Andrew’s estate, Radcliffe, carried out by G & J Seddon. Other contractors who have upgraded Bury’s housing stock have included P. Casey & Co and Premier Energy Solutions.

Councillor Michael Hankey, cabinet member for health and well-being, said: “The Decent Homes programme has been a real success for Six Town Housing, its tenants and Bury Council. By working together, a significant proportion of our houses has been improved, which contributes to the social and economic regeneration of neighbourhoods. This has included the creation of 20 trainee places as well as local employment opportunities which has been a key success of the programme.”

Six Town Housing is already planning its future refurbishment work which will aim to improve the energy efficiency of houses as well as maintaining the Decent Homes standard.

Sharon McCambridge, chief executive of Six Town Housing, said: “When Six Town Housing was created in 2005, the target to bring the houses up to Decent Homes standard by 2010 seemed a long way off. I am pleased to report that the target will be met.

“Everyone associated with the Decent Homes programme can feel proud of a job well done. Most important of all, many thousands of tenants are now enjoying better living standards and that’s what this has all been about.

“There will of course still be a continuing capital investment programme, covering roofs and heating along with kitchens and bathrooms to keep the properties up to a good standard.”