A CAERPHILLY resident is celebrating in style after his home became the 1000th to be revamped as part of a £25m improvement programme.

Mike Lewis has lived in the semi-detached property he shares with his partner and son, on Upland Road in Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, for more than 30 years.

Over the course of a fortnight, Mr Lewis saw his home transformed with a brand new kitchen, accessible bathroom, and upgraded electrics.

The facelift was carried out by housing specialist Keepmoat Regeneration, part of ENGIE Group, who are working with Caerphilly County Borough Council to bring 3000 council homes across the county borough up to Welsh Government’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) by 2020.

Mr Lewis, 70, said: “I have always lived in Caerphilly, except for when I was in the Army, and have been in this property since 1983. I cannot fault the work that has taken place in my home, my new kitchen and bathroom are absolutely brilliant. Everything was explained perfectly and all the workers were so polite.

“I do all the cooking for the family myself and absolutely love it now I can do it in my brand new kitchen. It’s brilliant, just brilliant, and my new walk-in shower has made my life so much easier, especially since being diagnosed with arthritis. Even my son thinks our new kitchen and bathroom is great.”

Ian Barnes, site manager at Keepmoat Regeneration, said: “The team are so proud when we see residents enjoying their newly-refurbished homes, so it’s great that we’ve reached such a significant milestone on this project.

“We really hope the new kitchen and bathroom will make a huge difference to Mr Lewis and his family, and we are looking forward to making a difference to the lives of many more residents across Caerphilly as part of this programme.”

Cllr Lisa Phipps, the council’s cabinet member for Homes and Places, added: “It’s really pleasing to hear that the quality of improvements to tenants’ homes continues to remain at a high standard, as the council’s WHQS programme progresses.”

Since it began in 2015, the partnership between Keepmoat Regeneration and Caerphilly Council has also resulted in ten apprenticeships and more than 40 work experience placements.