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£35m revamp for council homes in Cannock

Thousands of council homes across Cannock will be improved under multi-million pound plans announced by housing chiefs.

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More than £35 million will be spent on replacing kitchens and bathrooms, upgrading central heating and installing double glazing.

Meanwhile, 129 new properties will be built in the district over the next three years to help reduce waiting lists as part of the project.

The cash will go toward replacing a total of 825 bathrooms and 210 kitchens.

More than 2,500 properties will benefit from improved central heating and electrical upgrades.

Double glazing will also be installed at almost 3,000 properties before winter 2017.

The announcement follows the council's decision to freeze council house rent along with council tax, which leaders said would help families in the area.

It will be the first time both council tax and rent have been frozen since 1993.

Councillor Frank Allen, cabinet member for housing, said: "The proposed programme will provide a range of home improvements for the benefit of our existing tenants, whilst providing 129 additional council properties in which new tenants can make a home.

"I am delighted that it is both possible to complete the double glazing programme before the onset of the 2017-18 winter and further extend our new build programme."

The 129 additional homes will be built on sites at the Moss Road Estate in Chadsmoor, Green Lane in Rugeley and at a number of former garage sites throughout the district.

The proposals will go before the full council for approval on February11.

There are 5,500 council-owned homes in Cannock and surrounding towns such as Rugeley and Hednesford.

The rent freeze will come into force from April.

Council leader George Adamson said: "I am also aware of the impact of rent increases on hard working families and for many years tenants have had above inflation rent determined by the National Government.

"We now have the increased freedom to determine rent increases ourselves and have decided that a proposed rent freeze will give them a well earned break."

Council bosses have forecast a deficit of £578,000 in 2017-18.

The authority is looking at ways to cut costs to protect services and jobs in the future.

Sharing buildings and services is one of a number of ways in which the district council will pull in funds to reduce the potential shortfall.

It also wants to keep and use more of the business rates it collects from employers.

The council says that it would use the cash to invest in the area, rather than sending it to central government.

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