THE LATEST stage of a £31m programme to upgrade Southampton's 18,000 council homes to "decent standard" has been rubber stamped by city housing bosses.

Gas pipes will be replaced, electrical systems will be upgraded and lifts will be refurbished in the renewal projects, which will be undertaken over the next two years on housing estates across the city.

The huge raft of programmes was agreed by city bosses in March last year when city chiefs agreed to bring all of the council's homes up to "decent" standard by 2010.

Among the latest projects are:

£150,000 to replace corroded gas pipes leading into City Council properties.

A £100,000 programme to replace cold water tanks and cisterns on the Kingsland estate in the city centre.

A £850,000 programme to check and replace electrical systems in Swaythling.

Other schemes which have been approved are the renewal of heating systems in council homes in the Weston, Harefield and Peartree areas.

The programme was agreed by members of the city council's ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet.

City Council Cabinet member for housing and homes Councillor Paul Russell, pictured, said: "Meeting the decent homes standard is one of the most pressing challenges facing the council and this administration is committed to reaching this standard."