£90m improvement plan for homes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex

Thousands of affordable homes across Norfolk, Suffolk and North Essex are to be improved and upgraded by Eastern Procurement Consortium, a major new consortium that represents key housing organisations across the region. The works programmes are expected to be worth in excess of £90 million over the next four to six years.

The consortium, consisting of Freebridge Community Housing, Havebury Housing Partnership, North Norfolk Housing Trust, Orwell Housing Association and Saffron Housing Trust, together with Colne Housing Society, Cotman Housing Association and Suffolk Housing Society, has already received Government funding to prepare an overall business plan. It is one of only 12 consortiums nationally to be helped by Government in this way and the only one in the East Region.

Improvement programmes such as new kitchens and bathrooms, door and window replacements, new or upgraded central heating and electrical rewiring will be implemented over the next four to six years. Work is expected to start in September this year.

"We are planning a massive programme of improvements across the region," said Steve Tyree, Head of Eastern Procurement Consortium. "These improvements will both improve and maintain all housing owned by our eight organisations at or beyond the decent homes standard.

"By joining together to undertake this work, we will achieve better value in terms of efficiency and buying power than any single organisation could achieve on its own. We have a large budget but there is much to be done to ensure we get the best value for money possible. At the moment, we are requesting Expressions of Interest from contractors and we expect to receive a considerable response."

As well as residents, local trades people are also expected to benefit from the programme as it will ensure security of work over a long period.

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