Hundreds of residents across Bradford are benefiting from a £175 million scheme to improve the standard of housing. As well as improving the quality of life for residents the scheme has brought investment and jobs. T&A Reporter Mark Casci spoke to Bradford Community Housing Trust about its relationship with business.

In 2003, Bradford Community Housing Trust (BCHT), began a five-year renovation of its housing stock, the effects of which can be seen all over the city.

From the turbines atop the tower blocks on Manchester Road, to the thousands of internal home improvements, the programme has helped to reshape many areas of Bradford.

As well as being a massive boost to the quality of housing in the city, the programme has also been of immense business significance.

When preparing for the mammoth task, BCHT invited construction firms from all over the UK to tender for the contracts, eventually settling upon three: Bullock Construction, Lovell Partnerships and Wates Construction.

So important was the work that both Wates and Bullock decided to open permanent offices in Bradford, bringing jobs and cash into the city alongside the housing improvements.

So far, more than £110 million has been spent on improvements to 14,000 homes, £56 million of which has been spent in the last year.

The work has been done across 60 different sites, ranging from large housing estates to smaller sheltered housing schemes.

The work is also extremely varied, with the three construction firms working on a spectrum of projects, from new fencing and gates to replacement roofing and central heating installation.

Jez Lester, BCHT's director of asset management, said: "The trust is on track to meet the Government's decent homes standard two years ahead of its national target of 2010 and to give our tenants the high-quality modern homes they deserve.

"The investment is not just benefiting residents. We are committed to backing the Bradford Pound' and using local contractors and suppliers where possible.

"The construction work is also building careers for local people with more than 50 undertaking trade apprenticeships."

And the positive effects are already being felt by the tenants.

Frances Field, who lives on Dixon Avenue, Scholemoor, has recently had a new kitchen, bathroom and bedroom fitted into her property.

She said: "I was over the moon when I heard there were going to be improvements and the whole place looks really nice. It's like a brand new house."

Another resident, Barbara Vitty, who also lives on Dixon Avenue, is in the process of having her house completely redecorated, as well as having a new bathroom, bedroom and kitchen installed.

"The house looks so nice," she said. "It was a lovely surprise to hear I was getting it done out. Once the decoration is finished it'll be a new home for me."

Lovell has dedicated full-time liaison officers to deal with any questions or issues tenants may have.

Walter Knowles, regional director, said: "Tenant liaison officers have regular weekly surgeries and officers visit each resident to listen to any concerns.

"We also provide a respite area where people can go to have a cup of tea and a sit-down to get away from the dust and noise while work is being done on their house.

"The programme has gone extremely well and we have done work on more than 4,000 properties since we started."

Wates Construction has its base in Surrey but now has permanent offices in Bradford following its involvement in the project.

John Flowers, Bradford framework manager, said: "Working on this project is a great experience.

"Improving 3,500 homes to such a high standard has meant that the area trusts, the supply chain, ourselves and the residents have all had to work together to make sure the original promises could be delivered.

"Our whole team is really proud to have created a partnership that truly works and I'm delighted that so many people in Bradford have benefited as a result."

Bullock is another company to have put its money where its mouth is and moved operations to Bradford, with the city now being home to the company's north eastern head office.

Kevin Walker, regional director, said: "The investment programme has delivered improvements to tenants' homes, provided training and employment opportunities, support and investment in local businesses and community initiatives.

"The partnership is working extremely well and benefits from strong leadership by BCHT."

And to make sure the newly improved houses stay ship-shape, the housing trust has employed another company, Powerminster, to provide round-the-clock maintenance for the housing stock over the next few years.

John Howe, director of service and maintenance at Powerminster, says this service had met with real enthusiasm from both tenants and housing teams.

His team has also supplied residents with a reference book on how to maintain their properties, allowing people to have greater control over their homes.

He said: "We were conscious that older people, in particular, might be prudent in watching their heating bills. This service gives them round-the-clock reassurance."

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk