HUNDREDS of homes in the borough are set to undergo refurbishment after the council was handed extra government cash.

With £29,895,000 in the coffers ? up by £9 million on last year's government allocation ? the council says it will be able to set aside more than half this for repairing and maintaining its housing stock.

Under the latest budget allocation £17.8 million will go towards the maintenance programme, £5.9 will go on helping to improve and support projects in the private sector, and £3.1 million on provision for people suffering from HIV/AIDS and providing grants for tenants wanting to buy their own home.

Among the plans for improving the stock is replacing windows and roofs, making security improvements, converting flats and modernising houses.

Structural repairs and boilers replacement work will also be carried out.

Cllr Scott Reeve, lead member for housing, said: 'We are delighted that the government has kept its promise to help us with our maintenance programme.

'This major injection of funds will make a huge difference to our housing repairs backlog.

'We are all well aware that a massive investment is needed throughout the next decade to modernise our stock but this year's increase is a sign that the government is committed to maintaining the level of resources to help us accelerate our programme.'