FLATS built almost 60 years ago are in line for a near £12m transformation - with similar projects to follow at other high-rise blocks in Oldbury and Rowley Regis.

Alfred Gunn House - which was built in 1962 - in Thompson Road, Langley, is set to be renovated inside and out with a possible 14 new flats added.

The work is part of a £52m project to improve more than a dozen high-rise blocks in the Sandwell area.

Sandwell Council has also earmarked improvements for Darley House, Moorlands Court, St Giles Court, Addenbrooke Court and Wesley Court in Rowley, and Heronville House, Paget House and Wyrley House in Oldbury as well as four sites in West Bromwich.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell's cabinet member for housing, said: "The refurbishments to Alfred Gunn House are part of our on-going ten-year investment plan.

"This will see the council invest nearly £500 million into the delivery of new build projects, continued investment into existing council housing stock and communal spaces in neighbourhoods.

"Around £52 million of this is being spent on external improvements to 13 high-rise blocks across Oldbury, Rowley Regis and West Bromwich, starting with Alfred Gunn House.

"In addition to the much-needed improvements, one of the priorities with this block was to look at how we could remodel the flats to suit the changing needs of our tenants."

The proposed programme of external renovations includes new windows and cladding, improvements to balconies, a new roof and additional parking.

Internal works will also see two existing lifts replaced and upgraded, new decoration and lighting installed in communal areas and corridors plus improved entrance and security systems.

The building, which currently has 120 flats and is made up of three interlinked blocks with two staircases, one on each side of the building, will also get an additional mid-point staircase.

Major remodelling works will also see 57 three-bedroom flats reconfigured to two-bedroom properties in a bid to make them more attractive to tenants to try and tackle the relative high turnover and shorter than average tenancies the block suffers from.

Another ten two-bedroom flats could also be built on the roof subject to negotiations with existing telecommunications suppliers that currently have equipment on the existing rooftop.

Redundant storage sheds on the ground floor will also be removed to create a further four two-bedroom flats.

Landscaping around the block - which was built in 1962 - will also be improved including much needed extra car parking.

As well as seeking approval to tender for the £11.8 million improvement and remodelling works, the report to next week’s Cabinet also asks for the green light to draw up further plans for a new build council housing scheme within the Alfred Gunn House site.