£170m upgrade planned for homes

Millions of pounds are being spent upgrading thousands of former council houses in Norfolk and Suffolk.

A consortium of housing associations announced it is to start the work this September to include improvements to kitchens, bathrooms and heating.

The new consortium called e² represents housing groups across the region including Freebridge Community Housing and North Norfolk Housing Trust.

The group secured £170m in funding from the government.

The consortium is one of eight nationally and the only one in the eastern area.

Stephen Javes, chief executive of the Orwell Housing Association said: "We are planning a massive programme of improvements across the region.

"These improvements are based on new decent homes standards to ensure that all housing owned by our eight organisations is brought up to the highest level wherever possible."

Local contractors are also expected to benefit from the programme, which is expected to run over ten years, as it will ensure security of work.

Contractors will be invited to tender for projects at a later date.