WORK is now well under way on a £20.8million refurbishment scheme for council homes in Oldbury.

Work began on 19-storey Darley House in Wallace Close last November.

Surrounding low-rise blocks Alston House, Birchley House, Century House, Radnall House and Selby House will also benefit from the major transformation for the area in forthcoming phases of the project.

Once the three-year scheme is completed, external walls of all blocks will have been fitted with insulated rain cladding and new windows.

A new local district heat pump system including new radiators and hot water system is being installed.

Darley House will also benefit from a new roof, balcony improvements and internal improvements. The area around the blocks will be landscaped.

Lovell Partnerships Ltd, which is carrying out the work, provided family activities in the community room at Darley House during the recent February half-term break and is supporting wider community engagement initiatives and working with local businesses.

Representatives from Sandwell Council and Lovell visited the site to see the progress being made.

Councillor Charn Singh Padda, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for housing, said: “It was really good to visit Darley House with Lovell and see the great progress made so far.

"This major project will improve homes for hundreds of local people while also helping to improve energy efficiency.

“We are working closely with tenants to keep disruption to a minimum and the project team will continue to keep our tenants regularly updated as they move through different phases of the refurbishments.

“This project is part of our ongoing investment in existing and new council homes in Sandwell to make sure people have the homes they need.”