Four contractors have been awarded new repair deals by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

Carillion Energy Services Ltd, Combined Facilities Management (CFM) Ltd, CTS Projects Ltd and H&A Mechanical Services Ltd have been selected to carry out repairs on 87,000 NIHE homes across Northern Ireland.

The new contracts will begin this summer and will allow for more flexibility when scheduling repairs, an emphasis on first time repairs and wider use of mobile working to keep customers informed of appointments.

Local communities will also benefit with many apprenticeships created across a range of trades for young people. A number of social housing enterprises will also be created as a result of the initiative.

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NIHE Chief Executive, Clark Bailie, said: "We are delighted to announce these new contracts as a real opportunity to provide tenants with high quality repairs service. Alongside the organisation's planned maintenance programme, the repairs service will see a substantial investment in the local economy and provides long term assurance of job security and training opportunities for four local contracts.

"Over the past year, we have reviewed contracts, to determine how best a modern and efficient service should be delivered. We have taken into account experiences of contractors, best practice elsewhere and the views of customers.

"Given the potential value of this contract could be £1billion over a ten-year period, the organisation is also eager to ensure that social value is realised through these contracts and that the local communities we work with benefit from this. It is a requirement for each contract lot area to establish a social housing orientated social enterprise."

(CD/MH)