BURNLEY'S new housing company today announced a £6.2 million house improvement bonanza - with £4 million going to local contractors to carry out massive repairs next year.

The major boost to the local economy will start from day one of Burnley and Pendle Housing taking control of all the town's 5,300 council houses - possibly on January 31.

The massive first year repairs and modernisation programme is double the amount the council was able to spend on housing work this year and the start of a five year schedule which will pump £30million into improvements to Burnley's ailing housing stock over the next five years.

About half of all council houses will see some work in the first 12 months, the company's new chief executive Ian Saville announced today, with the entire stock seeing a real improvement by the end of year five.

He said the company will pump nearly £200million into repairs and improvements over the next 30 years.

In the first year alone more than £1million will be spent on providing central heating to homes on the Brunshaw, Lowerhouse and Padiham estates.

Programmed house painting will come back on stream after an absence of some years, with £160,000 earmarked for the work next year to repaint 1,000 properties.

There is also £500,000 set aside for double glazing for former council houses, said the company.

More than £2.3million will go on day to day repairs in the 12 month period. Mr Saville stated: "We aim to show a complete and distinct difference from day one.

"And we have been very careful to ensure every area sees something happening."

Roof and wall insulation will be upgraded on many properties and a programme of new kitchens and bathrooms will also begin and continue over the next 10 years.

Some 500 houses will have central heating installed and over 250 will get new or additional double glazing.

It will all mean a boost for the 40-strong direct works unit which will offer new jobs and apprenticeships.

And there will be major work on offer to mainly local; contractors, which will be encouraged by the company to employ apprentices.

Mr Saville said the company would be urging local contractors to employ local people so the money is recycled in the local economy.

He added the company would not skimp on the quality of its work and high standards would be assured.

The new board today also officially confirmed the team which will head the community housing company.

Ian Saville, 41, present boss of council housing will be the £60,000 chief executive. Council housing officer Paul Buckley, 37, the man who linked with Mr Saville to spearhead the transfer process, gets the £46,000 - £50,000 plus new car post of housing director.

The job of finance chief for the company will be advertised externally after no council staff applied for the job, said the company.

The posts, were branded "fat-cat jobs for the boys" by councillor critics after the board announced it needed to offer high salaries to attract the best possible applicants, but only advertised the jobs to existing council staff.

Mr Buckley told the Evening Telegraph today he did not feel like a "fat cat."

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