Next stage of £50m revamp for 6,000 council homes across Black Country begins

Work has already been carried out on estates in Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Tipton and West Bromwich as part of the Sandwell Council scheme.

Homes are being fitted with new kitchens and bathrooms, electrical rewiring and heating systems, along with new roofing and windows.

Contractors will now be looking at properties on estates around Smethwick and Wednesbury.

Councillor Ian Jones, cabinet member for jobs and economy, said: "The internal improvements programme, which started last year, is delivering a range of improvements to 6,000 of the borough's council homes over a three-year period.

"We are working hard with our partners to make sure improvements are carried out to a high standard and within the set timescales."

The work is being carried out with three building firms – Lovell Partnerships, VINCI Facilities and Wates Living Space.

In a separate scheme work is also taking place to revamp accommodation at three tower blocks in Smethwick. More than 250 homes at the site known as The Crofts, in Windmill Lane, are being refurbished.

Modern balconies and windows will be installed at the high-rise blocks, which have 270 flats.

They will also get new roofs and external cladding in a range of different colours.

It is hoped that work to improve insulation will help to reduce the residents' fuel bills.

The £11m project is expected to take two years to complete and will be finished in 2016.

Regeneration specialist Keepmoat is carrying out the major improvement programme.

It comes after news that dozens of new council homes will be built in Sandwell as part of a £12.5m scheme.

Land earmarked for development includes the former Bolton Court site in Ocker Hill and Tibbington Terrace, both in Tipton; Doulton Road, Rowley Regis; and Kent Close, West Bromwich.

A total of 145 new homes will be built.

They will include 36 new council homes – seven at Tibbington Terrace and 29 at Kent Close – with a further 109 homes for private sale across the Boulton Court, Tibbington Terrace and Doulton Road sites.

Construction company Kier will develop the sites and build the council homes under licence for the authority and they will be added to Sandwell's housing stock.

Councillor Jones said: "The demand for housing continues to grow in Sandwell.

"Working with Kier Partnership Homes as our development partner on these sites means that we are able to replace some of the homes that we have lost from our own stock through the Right to Buy scheme and after those have been completed a number of homes for private sale will be also be available."

The new council homes for rent will be built first, with work expected to start in the new year and scheduled for completion in 2016. The private properties are scheduled to be on the market from 2016 to 2018.

The deal will also create a number of construction training places and building jobs for local people.