Sandwell Council agrees £50m improvements package with construction trio

SANDWELL Council has launched an innovative partnership with three leading constructors which will enable a £50m package of repairs and improvements to be carried out on 6,000 of its council homes during the next three years.

The trio – Lovell Partnerships, VINCI Facilities and Wates Living Space – will deliver the multi-million pound internal improvements programme.

Each partner will be responsible for refurbishing around 2,000 properties across the borough, which did not receive improvements under Sandwell’s previous Decent Homes programme.

The range of improvements include: improved kitchens and bathrooms, new central heating systems and electrical rewiring plus external works such as replacing roofs and windows where necessary.

As well as delivering physical improvements to people’s homes, the partnership is also investing in community-based projects that will improve the communities they are operating in.

Cllr Ian Jones, cabinet member for jobs and economy, said: “The council has fought hard to continue investing in its council homes and given the economic climate, I am proud that we have been successful in developing a continuing programme of housing improvements after the Government withdrew our funding.

“This will see more than £50m being spent on internal refurbishment works, such as new kitchens and bathrooms, new central heating systems and electrical rewiring where needed, to properties over the next three years. Our tenants deserve to have good quality, warm and energy efficient homes for themselves and their families.”

David Gough, regional director for Lovell Partnerships, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Sandwell Council, VINCI Facilities and Wates Living Space on this exciting refurbishment scheme.

“The opportunity to help provide residents with a better standard of living as well as helping to renovate the council’s housing stock sits well with our values and ethics, we are looking forward to a mutually successful completion of the works.”

Tony Raikes, managing director of VINCI Facilities, said: “Collaboration is a core value of VINCI Facilities, so it’s excellent to be part of a dynamic partnership that’s not just delivering housing improvements, but also community benefits for the people of Sandwell. We’ve worked with the council for over 10 years and are very proud to be able to continue to contribute to improving the area.”

Stewart Reid, business director at Wates Living Space, said: “The new contract marks a new chapter in the relationship that we have built with Sandwell Council that started 10 years ago through the successful delivery of the Decent Homes Framework.”

He said the agreement reinforced the council’s confidence in Wates as a partner and was testament to its ability to deliver on its promises.

The financial year 2014/15 will see work carried out on properties in: Charlemont Farm, Devereux Road, Bromford Lane, Kelvin Way, Lyng, Kelvin Way, Spon Lane, Beeches Road and Trinity Road – all in West Bromwich.

Work will also take place on homes in Owen Street, Park Lane and Victoria Park, Tipton and Tividale, Oldbury plus Tividale Hall, Rowley Regis.