COUNCIL HOUSING in Dundee is to receive an £84 million investment boost over the next five years.
The money will be used to build houses and flats, install new kitchens and bathrooms at existing properties, and increase energy efficiency to cut fuel bills.
Councillors are expected to give the go-ahead to the plan at a meeting on Monday.
Housing convener Jimmy Black said: “Against a backdrop of steeply rising power costs and changes in the welfare benefits system, our tenants have told us they want increased energy-efficiency measures because these improvements will save them money on their fuel bills and create warm, comfortable homes for them to live in.”
The funds are to be allocated from the authority’s capital budget for the work, which continues a drive to bring Dundee’s council housing up to Scottish Government standards.
Much of the work to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard has focused on replacing kitchens and bathrooms and installing energy-efficient gas central heating systems and thermal insulation.
Already more than half of the council’s housing stock meets the standard and the target for April next year is to bring that figure up to almost three-quarters.
From 2015, the council will introduce a small programme of new council house building as part of the plan which will be funded by rental income, house sales and prudent borrowing.
Mr Black said: “We want to provide better housing for people in Dundee and are working towards all our houses meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.
“A big part of the SHQS is about greater energy efficiency, more efficient heating systems, insulation and special district heating schemes, all of which are designed to save tenants money and make their homes more comfortable.
“Our tenants all over the city have already seen improvements to their homes and this capital investment means that almost 5,000 more will benefit from this money being invested over the next five years.”
gogston@thecourier.co.uk