Housing investment of £64m proposed
Last updated | 16/05/2008
Plans for a £64.3m investment in the Council’s housing stock over the next three years will be outlined to a meeting of the Housing and Health Committee on Wednesday 21 May.
Members will be asked to approve the Housing Revenue Account Investment Plan for the financial years 2008/09 to 2010/11.
The total planned investment of £64.381 over the three-year period means an annual investment of £21.5m.
The money will allow work to continue on a number of rolling improvement programmes, including as the programme to replace kitchens and bathrooms in all Council houses, and also the central heating replacement project.
The committee will receive an update on the work done during 2007/08:
• A total of 1,105 kitchens were completed, bringing the total to 3,417 since the beginning of the contract. The bathroom replacement contract started in May 2007 and 1,388 houses were completed by the end of the financial year. Both contracts are on target for completion by 2010.
• New central heating systems were fitted to 212 houses in the first phase of the central heating replacement programme.
• Windows were replaced in 950 houses, bringing the total to 2,200 and essentially completing the contract.
• Work was carried out to improve the level of insulation in 900 houses, bringing the total to 1,609.
• Sixteen new chalets were erected at the Double Dykes site, raising living standards considerably. A further four will be erected in 2008/09.
Housing and Health Convener, Councillor Peter Barrett, said: “This is very significant investment that underlines our determination to deliver the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.
“All of this ongoing work is making a real difference to the lives of our tenants. When our tenants voted to remain with Perth & Kinross Council a few years ago we made promises to them about improving their homes. The excellent work being carried out across a number of ambitious projects is now delivering those promises.
“As well as improving our housing stock, the investment plan will also allow us to continue to set rent at affordable levels. The cost of rent in Perth and Kinross compares favourably with other Scottish local authorities.”
