Wolverhampton Homes forced to delay renovations

Around 8,000 council houses throughout Wolverhampton will have to wait up to three years longer than expected for a facelift due to a shortfall in Government funding, it was revealed today.

Wolverhampton Homes was originally due to complete the renovation programme providing updated kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring and central heating by April next year.

But it has emerged the Decent Homes programme will have to be slowed down as Government funding for it is £34 million short of the £100m needed. It is now not expected to be finished before April 2015.

More than 14,000 homes have been improved so far in Wolverhampton since the scheme started. Around 1,200 of those needing upgrades are in Ashmore Park, parts of Bilston, Tettenhall, Rakegate, East Park, Old Heath and Stow Heath.

Shaun Aldis, director of property services at Wolverhampton Homes, said: "We are working to ascertain exactly what this means for te-nants throughout the city."

Pete Lowndes, chairman of Ashmore Park residents association, said: "We would be prepared to wait for longer than expected if the property is updated in exactly the same way as those that have already been completed."

The £66,561,000 provided for the scheme by the Government has been allocated in a way that means it has to be spread over four years.