A HOUSING association is upgrading over 200 of its homes as part of a £700,000 improvement programme.

Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) is carrying out improvements that include the installation of new central heating boilers, kitchens, double glazed windows and repairs to pavements.

DAMHA has a rolling maintenance programme to ensure the homes meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard.

In total, 235 properties in areas such as Gateshead, Seaham, Easington, Blackhall, Chester-le-Street and Stanhope are included in the programme, which started in April and will continue to March.

Brian Stobbs, DAMHA’s Head of Asset Management, said: “Many of our properties are over 100 years old so they are very well built and what we are doing through our planned maintenance programme is ensuring the homes benefit from modernisation work designed to make them warm, energy efficient and even more attractive places to live."