THURROCK Council has signed a £45 million deal to continue its council house refurbishment progarmme.

The new contract with privately-owned construction, development and property services giant begins on 1 July.

The council say during the works Wates will continue to manage an extensive installation programme of new bathrooms, kitchens, boilers, windows and roofs in more than 10,000 properties.

Announcing the new deal the council says under its previous contract with Wates, which began in 2018, Wates has already delivered 7,545 kitchen and bathroom refurbishments, 1,493 boiler renewals, 5,698 electrical upgrades, 788 window replacements, 8,000 asbestos surveys and 7,500 asbestos removals.

The council's housing portfolio holder Cllr Barry Johnson says: "Since our Transforming Homes programme launched, we have made improvements to thousands of council homes in Thurrock and enhanced the lives of so many of our tenants. We've also seen increased tenant satisfaction in this programme.

"During the coronavirus pandemic, we have been able to deliver these improvements by taking all the necessary steps to protect our tenants, workforce and contractors and are continuously reviewing the latest official guidance to ensure everyone's safety. Many thanks to all involved for their hard work and dedication during this time.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Wates Living Space for a further five years, who have already delivered so much under this vital programme."

Wates' regional managing director Darren Burns said: "We are proud of what we and Thurrock Council have been able to achieve through this partnership and are looking forward to continuing to deliver the Transforming Homes Programme and improve so many residents' homes across the borough.

Alongside the great work our teams have done improving people's homes, we have also made a lasting impact on the local community, with over £46,000 of community investment generated throughout our contract.

"This includes more than 240 hours of training opportunities for local people and 158 students supported by our education programmes. A fantastic achievement for all involved."