A MULTI-million pound programme to modernise Wyre Forest housing will boost the district's employment.

Two hundred job will be created when the £30 million five-year enhancement work begins early in the new year.

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, £1 million 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 Wrekin 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 we have involved a panel of residents. 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: "I am delighted that the contracts have been awarded to a local company with an excellent reputation for employing local people and delivering quality while working closely with clients. I look forward to a long and successful partnership with Thomas Vale Construction."

The building firm's managing director, Tony Hyde, said: "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."

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.