A total of £24m has been earmarked over the coming financial year by Croydon Council to go towards providing new "affordable housing" in the borough, to be built in partnership with housing associations.

A further £21m will finance repairs to existing housing, based on the priorities laid down by tenants and leaseholders during consultation by the council.

And residents on district panels will have a say in how £100,000 will be spent on recreational facilities for young people living in council accommodation, with a forum being piloted in Waddon.

Among the housing repairs projects is the refurbishment of three ten-story blocks of flats in South Norwood and Waddon in partnership with construction firm Wates.

New security doors and entry systems, replacement kitchen and bathrooms and upgraded central heating all feature among the on-going programme of works.

Some £2.9m in home improvement grants will be available to home-owners to help fund adaptations, renovations and energy efficiency improvements.

The work on the tower blocks is due for completion by June, and includes over-cladding the building, re-roofing, refurbishing the lifts, and the fitting of new kitchens and bathrooms in the South Norwood flats.

* Free fire alarms are are being fitted to all 15,000 council households in the borough in a joint operation between Croydon Council and the fire service. Installation work gets underway next month.