PRIVATE housing in Middlesbrough is to receive a £2.8m boost to help keep people in their own homes for longer and regenerate run-down areas.

The cash is to be spent on older privately-owned and rented housing in Middlesbrough, after the local authority agreed the details of the investment package in its 2004-2005 budget plan.

The move has been welcomed by Age Concern and the West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust (WMNT), which is about to see money invested in its regeneration programme.

Chief executive of Age Concern in Middlesbrough Dave Punshon said: "We welcome any investment in housing for elderly people, but hopefully the council will also invest in the social structure in the area."

More than £900,000 has been allocated to the council-run Staying Put Agency, which gives grants for adaptations to homeowners enabling them to stay in their own home and organises repair work for low income, elderly owner-occupiers.

About £450,000 will go to housing renewal areas in the Westbourne and Clarendon Road areas of the town and resources to support an external improvement programme in the Bell Street area being developed with WMNT.

Chairwoman of WMNT Joan Ford said: "More than £2.6m of WMNT money will also be spent on improving older housing in the area. Bell Street has been agreed as a priority for improvement by the trust."

The council's money for the programmes has come mainly from the North-East Housing Board.

Councillor Ron Lowes, the executive member for housing, said: "This investment is important in securing the fabric of private housing in the town and the well-being and quality of life of owner-occupiers, particularly those on low or fixed incomes.