COUNCIL homes across the borough are to be revamped as part of a £15million refurbishment programme.

Dudley Council has awarded a multi-million pound contract to community regeneration specialists, Keepmoat, and house builder and refurbishment specialist, Lovell, to upgrade void and occupied council properties.

Thousands of homes will be rewired and given kitchen and bathroom makeovers over the next three years; roofing works will also be carried out and central heating installed – to ensure properties meet national standards and suit tenants’ needs.

Housing bosses say the refurbishment programme, which will be in addition to works carried out by the council’s own housing repairs team, will help to cut response times for necessary work during busy periods.

Councillor Gaye Partridge, Dudley’s cabinet member for housing, said: “I am delighted we have been able to secure a contract which will improve local council housing. For a long time now the housing repairs team has worked with contractors to deliver improvements for council tenants, and it is good to know we have a proven way of working that reduces waiting times for customers, and makes the overall service more effective.”

David Gough, regional director at Lovell which has completed numerous Dudley Council projects over the years, said: “This is a major contract win for Lovell and we’re very pleased to be able to continue working with Dudley Council.”

Neil Baxter, regional director for Keepmoat, said: “We’re looking forward to bolstering our team in Dudley with some new faces; at Keepmoat we’ve always prided ourselves on our continued commitment to training and apprenticeships. Over the next three years we’ll be recruiting six apprentices as well as a graduate, and work experience opportunities for local people to help us to deliver this contract.”