Former Home Secretary David Blunkett visited Shiregreen tenants to celebrate the refurbishment of 500 homes by Sanctuary Housing and its building contractor Frank Haslam Milan.

Sanctuary is currently in the second year of it's five-year ‘Decent Homes Plus’ programme to modernise 2,500 homes on the Shiregreen estate and has just reached the milestone, with consultants McBains Cooper.

Mr Blunkett, who is also MP for Sheffield Brightside, visited Harold and Ann Mitchell at their home of 24 years in Gregg House Road, Shiregreen, and heard first hand about how it has undergone a complete transformation, with rewiring, double glazing, a new kitchen and bathroom, central heating, external and internal doors.

Mrs Mitchell said she was delighted, not only with the modernisation, but with the workforce and liaison officer who helped them during the works.

Mr Blunkett presented the overjoyed couple, both aged 70, with a bouquet of flowers on Sanctuary’s behalf.

David Gooch, Head of Regeneration for Sanctuary Housing, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Mr Blunkett back to Shiregreen. The weather failed to dampen spirits and everyone had a fantastic day. Mr Blunkett was extremely impressed with the quality of the refurbishment works and progress of the project.”

Following the visit Mr Blunkett said: "I was very pleased to be able to celebrate with Ann and Harold Mitchell the five hundredth home to be fully refurbished. Not only was it a pleasure to experience their joy in having a home fit for the future with all mod cons, but the fact that they were so complimentary about the way the work had been planned and carried through. With five hundred down and another two thousand to go, let us hope that the satisfaction, the same praise and the same outcome can be achieved as part of this important investment in homes fit to live in."

Friday’s event was the second time the former Home Secretary has visited Shiregreen tenants since the programme started.

The Estate was transferred from Sheffield City Council in March 2006.