A MULTI-million pound programme to modernise Wyre Forest's housing will create hundreds of jobs.

The £30m five year enhancement work, which is due to begin early in the new year, will see 200 new posts being made available.

Wyre Forest Community Housing, which took over the running of 6,000 council homes from the local authority in April, has placed the first phase of contract work with Stourport-based Thomas Vale Construction.

The initial contract includes the building of a new, £1m headquarters for the housing group at Foley Business Park, Stourport Road.

The home improvement programme gets underway next month. Wyre Forest Community Housing's strategy and marketing manager Marina Banner said it would involve refurbishment of kitchens and bathrooms.

The first areas, where a total of 100 bungalows and houses will benefit, will be Cotswold Close and Wreking Close, Birchen Coppice, Kidderminster, St Michael's Court and Vernon Court, Stourport and Bark Hill, Bewdley.

The work schedule will be stepped up after the first phase is completed.

Mrs Banner said tenants had a say in management decisions for the programme.

"What's exciting for the tenants about this programme is that we have involved a panel of residents," she said.

"They have helped select the contractors. They have been hand-in-hand with us throughout the programme, choosing bathroom and kitchen fittings."

Chris Lewis, chairman of the housing group's board, said he was " delighted" that the contracts had been awarded to a local company.

Delighted

"We are both delighted and proud, as a local company, to have the opportunity to work on such a unique and forward-thinking partnering initiative," said the building firm's managing director, Tony Hyde

Work on subsequent phases of the programme will be put out to competitive tender as the project proceeds. Thomas Vale Construction secured the first phase contract after competitive tendering.