Birmingham to get £129m of housing improvements

Birmingham City Council looks set to approve a £129 million budget for investment in council properties this year, a £19million increase on last year’s funding.

Tenants, through local Housing Liaison Boards (HLBs) have supported the prioritisation of central heating and double-glazed windows in their homes. This year approximately £79 million will be spent to achieve the Decent Homes Standard.

Tenants will also benefit from a £12 million new kitchen and bathroom programme which is to be started this year with some 1,600 families living in more modern homes which will complement a raft of improvements such as energy efficient heating installation using high efficiency boilers, the installation of pvcu double glazed windows and improved thermal comfort.

Properties will also benefit from improved security by installing secure by design front entrance doors, and reduced maintenance in future years with the replacement of timber fascias and soffits with PVC materials and re-roofing some properties.

In addition to the internal improvements required to achieve the Decent Homes Standard, much needed structural improvements will be carried out to a number of tower bocks and other council properties across the city.

Councillor John Lines, cabinet member for Housing said: "We are continuing to improve council housing to provide a better quality of life for residents across the city. Better homes will also contribute to healthier communities and I am delighted once again to honour the commitment to tenants in 2004 to improve their homes if they wished to remain with the council as their landlord. We hope that the commencement of a kitchens and bathrooms programme will also be welcomed by tenants. "

It is thought the works will be awarded to the council's construction partnering contractors - Wates Living Space, G F Tomlinson Building and Thomas Vale Construction.