River Clyde Homes (RCH) has announced it will spend over £2m a month upgrading homes across the Inverclyde area over the coming year.

The record investment comes as the housing association aims to complete a nine year programme to bring its properties up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS).

In total, just over £24m will be spent on internal and external improvements to over 1,700 homes, meaning that RCH will have brought 5,800 properties to the SHQS.

External works to varying degrees will take place in 1,200 properties, while the final 530 homes will receive new kitchens and bathrooms.

In addition, preliminary works will take place ahead of a £2.6m investment in heating upgrades and system replacements to help alleviate fuel poverty, while £337,000 will be spent on equipment and adaptions to help tenants remain in their homes.

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Further works will take place later this year in the Holmscroft and John Street areas of Greenock, with the latter seeing over £500,000 being spent on improving the landscape around the recently modernised homes.

An investment of £1.5m is underway in the maisonettes and cottages in Slaemuir, Port Glasgow.

New cladding is also being installed at Cartsdyke Court in Greenock as part of a £1.4m package that includes triple glazing and new heating systems.

Graham McDowall, Investment Planning and Delivery Manager at RCH, said: "This is our biggest annual investment in properties to bring homes to the SHQS. Energy bills remain a concern for many customers and we are doing what we can to make homes more fuel efficient. Our programme to regenerate the Broomhill area of Greenock is gathering pace and, at a cost of £26m, is currently one of the biggest housing investment programmes in Scotland."

In addition, a new lift will be installed in Bagatelle Court, Greenock as part of an ongoing initiative to replace all lifts in sheltered housing complexes.

(LM)