Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) has announced the winning bidder for its five-year repairs contract worth £25m.

Lovell has been selected for the deal, which will be formally awarded in December.

The contract is set to begin in April 2013 and would see the company undertake responsive repairs service for more than 10,200 households and the refurbishment of void properties.

Lovell has been working with DGHP since autumn 2010 after the previous contractor went into administration.

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90 employees have been transferred to Lovell since then.

Simon Medler, managing director for the Lovell repairs and maintenance business, said: "We have worked very closely with DGHP and tenants to identify how the service could be improved and have then implemented the changes needed."

Fred Murray, DGHP’s Customer Services Committee Chair, said: "We can confirm that Lovell, our existing services provider, is the preferred bidder for our new five-year contract."

Future improvements, according to the company, will include more flexible appointment times for repairs visits which will include early morning and evening and Saturday morning appointments.

Lovell says it will also continue to provide training opportunities for local people.

It has already committed to employ five apprentices at any one time throughout the contract with new apprentices to be taken on when existing apprentices finish their training.

(IT/GK)