Dudley Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve plans at a meeting next week - a £232 million spend is proposed from this year to 2023 on council housing in the borough.

An investment of £72m is proposed on maintenance of existing council housing, including kitchen and bathroom replacements and external work on roofs, doors and windows. Local authority bosses are also planning to spend almost £41m on building new council housing.

More than £22m has been identified to address fuel poverty, including improving central heating and providing more affordable heating in 3,250 homes, reducing carbon emissions.

Nearly £31m will be spent on work to support independent living, including home adaptations for tenants with disabilities and improvements to sheltered and supported homes. And more than £13m will be invested in community and community and estate regeneration. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing, said:

“We are committed to doing all we can to improve the standards of living for our tenants, and this huge investment over the next five years reflects that.

“The future is bright for Dudley – and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to live and work here by offering good quality, fit for purpose, modern council homes.”

Money spent on council homes is ring-fenced and mainly sourced from rental income from tenants and receipts from right to buy sales. The programme of works has no impact on the level of council tax, or any proposed annual council tax increase.