Monday 21st February 2011

In the biggest allocation of cash in the East Midlands, council tenants in North East Derbyshire are set to benefit from a £52m spending programme to improve their homes.

What's being called an 'ambitious improvement programme' will see thousands of homes made warmer, fitted with modern doors and windows and upgraded in line with the Government's Decent Homes Standard. This is a standard set in 2001 to ensure minimum criteria of repair for social housing.

The Decent Homes Improvement Work will be carried out by Rykneld Homes, the company that manages the NEDDC housing stock and comes after they submitted a bid on the Council's behalf.

Although the Council and Rykneld Homes currently carry out Decent Homes works, the additional funding will allow them to complete the Decent Homes programme agreed by tenants by 2014.

In a joint statement, Cllr Graham Baxter MBE, North East Derbyshire District Council Leader, and Cllr Betty Hill, NEDDC's Member with responsibility for Housing, said:  "This is excellent news for North East Derbyshire and for our tenants.

"The funding will enable us to improve thousands of homes throughout the district over the years ahead. During these difficult times it is essential that we can continue to offer the best possible housing services for our local residents, and this funding will enable us to provide quality homes that are warmer and of a much higher standard.

"This funding has only been made possible thanks to the success of Rykneld Homes in achieving a two-star rating in its Audit Commission inspection last year. This has been the springboard for Rykneld Homes, working in partnership with the council, to attract the biggest housing investment programme in the region outside of Nottingham."

In making the award, the Homes and Communities Agency said: "Successful bids were those where the authority made a strong case for investment need and had already demonstrated significant cost reductions."

Last year Rykneld was judged by the government's spending watchdog - the Audit Commission - to be a good housing service provider, with promising prospects for improvement and awarded two stars.

Tenants are involved in developing and monitoring service improvements and are members of the Rykneld Board.

Linda Henstock, Chair of the Rykneld Homes Board, and a tenant, said: "This is fantastic news for tenants and the communities they live in.

"The funding bid put forward was a very strong and compelling one and was based on our track record of delivering what we say we will do.  We now look forward to working with tenants and our partners to deliver the Decent Homes work and create homes fit for future generations to come."

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