1,000 new council homes planned for Darlington in 10 years

Council leaders were told of a five-year £102m works programme, rising to over £400m over a 30-year period.

A report set out £58.4m of spending this year for Darlington Borough Council's housing revenue account (HRA).

This includes £25.6m on new-build council homes and £17.6m on major works.

It also includes almost £12m on repairs, maintenance, adaptations, structural works, roofing, energy efficiency measures and replacements to doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems.

The report recommended a 2% rent increase in the next year, an average of £1.64 a week, taking into account the economic pressures on tenants.

It is proposed service charges also rise by "an appropriate inflationary amount".

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Councillor Kevin Nicholson told Darlington Borough Council's cabinet meeting this week: "This is one of our most ambitious plans ever in housing.

"These plans will drive transformation in our department and will ensure that our tenants are getting the best possible service and experience that they deserve.

"Our investment plan has identified a capital works budget of around £102m over the next five years.

"And £409m for the lifetime of the programme for the next 30 years which includes our new-build programme.

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"Our investment plan will ensure that all identified works within the stock condition survey can be completed alongside additional works to maintain our properties to an appropriate standard.

"We have an ambition to build 1,000 new council homes over the next 10 years.

"Demand for our properties continues to be exceptionally high, with over 1,600 families on our waiting list.

Cllr Kevin Nicholson from Darlington Borough Council. Picture: Northern Echo.

"Since the programme began, 237 new council properties have already been delivered at various locations around Darlington, providing exceptionally high-quality homes to Darlington residents.

"This year, we'll be building even more homes in more places than ever before.

"We're committing £1m for double glazing and door replacements across our stock and I'm delighted that it will be replaced this year before April 2023.

"Tenants have been asking us for years to do this programme and I'm pleased that we're able to finish it this year for them.

"Once it's been completed it will have a massive impact on our tenants' energy bills and will support them in the long term during these difficult times.

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"We've committed £4.3m for our responsive repairs and maintenance service, which means that we're allocating on average £812 per property to ensure that our tenants get first-class service when dealing with issues that they might raise during the lifetime of their tenancy.

"We're also allocating £1.1m to upgrade heating systems to approximately 240 households and £1.8m for property adaptations, structural works and roofing upgrades.

"These will help ensure that our tenants can lead independent lives and stay in the homes that they care so much about.

"We're also allocating £1.9m for kitchens and bathroom upgrades to 185 properties.

"All of the money for this comes from our housing tenants' rents. It isn't money that comes from taxpayers. It comes from rents directly and that's how we allocate that spending.

"So I hope that members on all sides can celebrate this journey of transformation, which will help improve our tenants' homes and modernise our approach."

Cllr Anne-Marie Curry from Darlington Borough Council. Picture: Northern Echo. (Image: LDR)

Cllr Anne-Marie Curry welcomed new homes adapted for people with disabilities: "I do believe as we get an older and older generation there may be more and more disabled people appearing on our lists."

Cllr Nicholson joked: "If I could build 1,600 houses this year I would but the leader won't let me.

"We've had fantastic feedback off our tenants and people are banging at my door every day to say, 'I want a council house and I want to move into one today,' so if there was enough space to do it we would."

The cabinet agreed to recommend the proposals, which will now be considered by the full council.