An £8m Decent Homes refurbishment project has been formally recognised with a celebratory completion event attended by council leaders, contractors and residents.

Lancaster House, in Oldbury, which received extensive refurbishment work including the development of eight new flats on the roof of the building, was completed in June.

The completion event gave contractors Thomas Vale and Sandwell Council’s Urban Design team, which drew up the improvement plans for the building, the chance to celebrate the building’s transformation together with residents, project managers, contractors, the Mayor of Sandwell, council leaders and Sandwell Homes board members. It follows an 18 month project to improve the building’s external appearance, balconies, communal lifts and reception areas as well as the surrounding landscape.

The Mayor of Sandwell, Cllr Pauline Hinton, was asked to unveil a plaque in recognition of the Decent Homes work. She said: “I am happy to be here today on this special occasion, marking the end of a real journey of transformation to what was previously a tired and run-down old block of flats. 

“Lancaster House is now a landmark for the whole of Sandwell with employees and customers even referring to it as ‘Lancaster Palace’, and I can see why. Having visited whilst work was being undertaken I have witnessed first-hand the before and after and commend everyone who has been involved for their hard work, particularly the tenants living in the block whilst the work was being undertaken. I know that they are delighted with end result and hope that they are able to enjoy the benefits of this work for many years to come.”

The Leader of Sandwell Council, Cllr Darren Cooper, added: “A lot has changed at Lancaster House over the last 18 months, and what we are seeing here today is testament to Sandwell continuing to invest in much needed improvements to council housing. 

“£65 million has already been invested in the borough’s high rise blocks, making living conditions better for all who live in them as well as radically improving the Sandwell skyline. I am proud to be here today at this unveiling because it identifies that we are making real progress and delivering real improvements to the people of Sandwell.”

Sandwell Homes has a new interim chief executive.

Paul Field, who has been its finance director and company secretary since 2004, takes up his new role on 1st July, following the retirement of previous chief executive Brian Oakley at the end of June.

Mr Field, who has 33 years’ experience in the public sector started his career at Redditch District Council and spent 17 years at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council where he was head of financial operations.

He is a Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy qualified accountant.

Mr Field will head-up the company until March 2011, while a new chief executive is recruited.

He said: “My focus is building on our existing successes and developing the future of the company.

“My personal priorities include driving up the standards of service and creating even higher levels of customer satisfaction for our tenants and leaseholders, ensuring they have the opportunity to influence the delivery of the services we provide, completing our incredibly successful Decent Homes programme, at £425 million, one of the largest in the country and ensuring that our most vulnerable tenants continue to get the advice and support they need and deserve in the current climate.”

Sandwell Homes which manages and maintains 29,000 properties for Sandwell Council has climbed from a one-star rated organisation in 2004 to a three-star rated “excellent” organisation, following an Audit Commission inspection in 2008.