COUNCIL tenants in Darlington are to benefit from a £9m overhaul of the authority's housing stock during the next financial year.

A further £1m is also being made available for private house owners to make improvements to their homes.

Darlington Borough Council will spend the money on repairs and improvements in the next financial year.

The money is part of the council's plan to update and improve its housing stock and other accommodation.

The sum includes an additional £500,000, made available because of the success of the authority's housing strategy in previous years.

More than £3m is to be spent on energy efficiency improvements, rewiring and installing new kitchens and bathrooms in more than 500 older properties in Branksome and Firthmoor, and modern heating systems in 250 properties in Lascelles, Redhall and Branksome.

The renovations are being carried out in consultation with residents and, where possible, occupants will be able to choose their own colour schemes.

Other regeneration programmes include environmental improvements, including new fencing, walls, better paving and footpaths and general improvements to gardens, as well as a programme of structural work and roofing repairs.

There will also be £2m available for maintenance such as painting, fire alarm monitoring and other day-to-day repairs.

In addition to improvements to council housing, more than £1m will be used to continue a programme to improve sheltered housing accommodation.

The £1m available to private home owners will help them to renovate properties or adapt them for people with disabilities.

Councillor Paul Baldwin, the cabinet member for housing, said: "This money shows the council's continued commitment to improving the quality of life for the residents of Darlington.

"The work of the council's housing service has been recognised by central Government, who have placed it in the above average category for its housing strategy and business planning.

"This in turn has enabled the council to access a higher level of funding."