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Funding for Salford home improvements

24 Feb 11 Salford has secured £51.8m from the government to improve council homes over the next four years.

The funding from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) was confirmed to cover a backlog of works to bring houses across the country up to the required Decent Homes Standard.

A total of £51.8m was allocated to  Salford for 2011-15 with money released each year starting with £10.5m for 2012/13, then £12m for 2012/13, a further £12m in 2013/14, and £17.3m in 2014/15.

The money will be spent on works to kitchens, bathrooms, central heating, doors and windows for those most in need.

The confirmation of the Decent Homes funding opens up access to a further £9m through the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) to make homes more energy efficient.

In July last year Salford secured £5m of Decent Homes money after Salix Homes, the council's housing management company, was rated as 'good' with 'excellent prospects for improvement' by the Audit Commission.

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Since then, further money from the government was put on hold until a review of all public spending plans was carried out.
The council and Salix Homes will now sit down to agree a programme of works for homes across central Salford.

Salford City Council's leader, Cllr John Merry CBE said: "This money will go a long way to help improve homes in the city and it's excellent news for residents."

Councillor Peter Connor, the city council's lead member for housing added: "We put forward a strong case for this investment for the benefit of residents, which included a clear demonstration of excellent value for money.

"This has really helped us to secure this investment for the city and we will now sit down to look at a suitable programme to deliver the works."

Salix Homes chair Peter Styche said: "Salix Homes has worked very hard, in partnership with tenants, to improve the services that we provide. This decent homes money we will be able to bring everybody's home up to a decent standard. This will make a big difference to a lot of people's lives, which is what we are here for."

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