HOUSING minister Yvette Cooper visited Ferryhill this week to see two of the region's housing and regeneration projects.

Mrs Cooper learned about the proposed transfer of housing stock from Sedgefield Borough Council to a non-profit making company.

As she opened a show home in Ferryhill, which has been refitted to show tenants the standard of living they can expect from a transfer, she said: "I've been very impressed to see the refurbishment.

"The standard of homes here is already good, but tenants will get to vote for whether they want extra money for better kitchens or money to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area."

Mrs Cooper, MP for Pontefract and Castleford, said the recent transfer of social housing in Wakefield, in her own constituency, was supported by tenants.

She also visited Tees Valley Living, in Middlesbrough, to find out how a partnership of local authorities and agencies hope to turn around low housing demand in the area.

The scheme considers issues such as environment, crime, health and education alongside housing conditions to improve neighbourhoods.