The four-and-a-half year contract will see all council homes in the Vale brought up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Work will involve renewal of kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring, heating systems, windows, doors and roofs starting on September 3.

The four winning contractors are Lovell Partnerships, Ian Williams, Apollo Property Services and SMK Building and Maintenance.

The winners were appointed after an extensive procurement exercise and the council’s own building services department will also be undertaking some of the refurbishment works mainly on sheltered housing accommodation across the Vale.

Neil Moore, Leader of the Council, said: “Council tenants have been waiting for a number of years for the commencement of this programme.

“We have appointed experienced contractors to deliver this programme and I am confident that tenants will be pleased with the work that is carried out.

“Not only will all council properties be upgraded, but there will be wider benefits delivered by increasing local jobs and apprenticeships in the area and spending the local pound within the Vale. This is good news for the local economy.

“We are at the stage where the council and external contractors are now gearing themselves up during the mobilisation period in readiness for the contract start date”

All contractors will be monitored on a continual basis and their performance reported to the council and a Tenants Quality and Design Forum.