The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Jane Bird, visited tenants on the Shiregreen Estate on Monday, 12th January, to celebrate the refurbishment of 1,000 homes by Sanctuary Group and its building contractor Frank Haslam Milan Limited.

Cllr Bird visited Mr and Mrs Dearman at their home in Oaks Fold Road to hear first hand about how the property has undergone a complete transformation, with a new kitchen and bathroom, rewiring, central heating, and internal and external door replacements carried out.

Mrs Dearman said: "Our home was old fashioned and did not even have central heating before but we are delighted with the improvements that have been made."

Sanctuary is currently in the third year of its five-year 'Decent Homes Plus' programme to modernise 2,500 homes on the Shiregreen Estate. Work commenced in September 2006, following transfer of the homes from Sheffield City Council, and includes new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, rewiring and external works such as off road parking, garden walls and railings.

David Gooch, Director of Regeneration for Sanctuary Group, added: "The completion of work to the 1,000th property marks a significant milestone in our investment programme on Shiregreen and we are delighted that Mr and Mrs Dearman are pleased with the improvements made to their home."