£50 million home improvement programme reaches completion

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Development

A £50m project to improve homes across Amber Valley, Derbyshire has reached completion.

The nine-year programme from Futures Homescape came to an end at the home of 92-year-old Gladys Wint (pictured), of Mapperley, who has lived at the property since 1949.

Work at Mrs Wint’s property included structural repairs and a new insulated render, applied to improve the appearance of the home and increase its energy efficiency.

The home improvement programme, which started in 2003, has helped to bring all Futures Homescape’s properties up to the national Decent Homes Standard.

Since work began all 5,500 homes owned by the housing provider have been surveyed.

 A total of 3,633 new kitchens and 2,116 bathrooms have now been installed.

Paul Johnson, head of asset management at Futures Homescape, said: “I want to take the opportunity to thank all our tenants for working with us during the major improvements to their homes.

“Our work won’t stop here and we already have a number of projects in the pipeline to continue improving the homes and communities we serve.”

The improvement programme has also seen homes rebuilt, major structural and thermal efficiency works carried out and the complete refurbishment of some homes.

Mr Johnson said: “The aim of all this work was not only to deliver on the promises made to tenants when we first launched as a new housing association, but to ensure that all properties meet the national Decent Homes Standard. 

“More importantly this programme of work was about improving the quality of existing properties and providing tenants with modern facilities that will support a better and more affordable lifestyle.

“As part of this process tenants have played a key part in shaping how the service has been delivered and in choosing the fixtures and fittings, and sometimes layouts, for their homes.”