St Albans City and District Council has signed a "massive" contract for £18 million of improvements to be made to council houses in the area.

Correct Contract Services (CCS) will carry out the work to improve the energy efficiency of more than 900 social housing properties.

According to the council, enhancements may include loft, cavity wall and external wall insulation, solar panels and low-energy lighting.

Upgrades may also be made to windows, external doors and ventilation.

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The work has been partly funded by an £8.45 million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s social housing decarbonisation fund.

The remaining £9.7 million has been taken from the council’s housing budget, financed by rental payments.

Councillor Jacqui Taylor said: “This is a massive contract for us as it covers around one fifth of all our social housing properties.

Herts Advertiser: A property in Breakspear Avenue, before and after improvements were made.A property in Breakspear Avenue, before and after improvements were made. (Image: St Albans City and District Council)

“We are delighted to have made a successful bid amid intense competition to help fund this ambitious programme.

"It is testament to the hard work that has gone into making a detailed application.

“I am also pleased to have signed a contract with a company with a strong track record for delivering such projects.

“The improvements will give our tenants financial help by boosting the energy performance ratings of their homes.

"They will not need to use as much energy to heat their properties as before, reducing energy bills at a time when costs have soared.”

                                                                                            

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Danny Gladwyn, CCS’s managing director, added: “We are thrilled to have secured this contract with St Albans City and District Council and are looking forward to getting on with the job of making these improvements.

“This is a challenging project, involving more than 900 homes, but we hope to complete it in around two and a half years and are pleased that hundreds of tenants will benefit by seeing reductions to their household bills.”

Herts Advertiser: St Albans City and District Council.St Albans City and District Council. (Image: Google Streetview)

Mrs Maureen Kitchingham - a tenant in one of the local authority's properties - commented: "I am delighted with the improvements and the quality of the work and am sure other tenants who benefit will be too.

"I’m looking forward to having a warmer house this winter and seeing a reduction in energy use which will save us money on bills.”