£12m housing boost for two-storey homes in Renfrewshire

£12m housing boost for two-storey homes in Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire Council tenants living in two-storey properties are to benefit from a £12million project to improve the outside of the homes.

The first £3million phase is already underway in Johnstone and Elderslie with 229 homes benefitting from new roofing, roughcasting, new gutters, downpipes, energy efficiency measures as well as landscaping and environmental improvements.

This is the first of three phases of external improvements to two-storey council houses being carried out by contractors The Apollo Group. The second phase of the programme will see a further 263 council-owned two-storey properties in Bishopton, Bridge of Weir, Crosslee, Linwood, Renfrew and Gallowhill benefit.

Overall a total of nearly 900 homes will benefit from an investment of nearly £12million over the next year. Work on phase two is due to begin in October.

The work is being carried out as part of Renfrewshire Council’s Delivering Housing Improvements programme which will see £138million invested in council properties between 2010 and 2015.

The programme will ensure all of the council’s properties meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

Councillor Kenny McLaren, Renfrewshire Council’s housing spokesperson, said: “Delivering Housing Improvements started last year with the internal improvements programme including kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring and upgrades to central heating systems.

“This year the external improvements are also getting underway which will improve the overall standard of all the council’s homes, it will make them more sustainable, energy efficient and improve conditions for tenants.”

Brian Morrow, Divisional Director of The Apollo Group, said: “We are delighted that Renfrewshire Council has chosen to award further significant housing refurbishment contracts to Apollo. We look forward to the opportunity of maintaining the high standards of delivery and service that the Council and its residents have come to expect from us.”

For more information about the Scottish Housing Quality Standard or the Delivering Housing Improvements programme, please visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/housingimprovements or contact the Housing Investment Team on 0141 847 3430 .