HUNDREDS of homes in a Valleys village will be at the centre of a major renovation project.

The western part of Six Bells, near Abertillery, has just been declared a formal Renewal Area by Blaenau Gwent council - to give the houses a face-lift and to improve parking and the environment.

The declaration will enable the council to invest and attract government funding for repairs to 390 houses, with work beginning next year. It is part of a wider regeneration of the village.

Councillor Jim McIlwee, the executive member for housing, said: "We have decided that Six Bells is in urgent need of targeted intervention, and to focus on the western part."

He said the council would acquire many vacant and derelict commercial buildings in the area for demolition.

Work is now due to begin in the spring, and will last for up to eight years. The authority is also to decide on another part of Blaenau Gwent to be a Renewal Area - and has set aside £850,000 for both projects.

Under the Six Bells scheme, the exteriors of 390 houses will be renovated in Alexandra Road (West), Alexandra Terrace, Bridge Street, Victoria Road, Ashtree Terrace, Chapel Road, Six Bells Road, Arael and Upper Arael Street, Griffin and Upper Griffin Street, Lancaster and Lower Lancaster Street.

Residents who participate in the scheme will be means-tested - but will have to fund no more than 25 per cent of the cost.

They will also be able to get financial assistance through means-tested renovation grants to modernise the houses' interiors.

Environmental improvements will include work to front garden walls and more car-parking spaces.

Six Bells councillors Jim Watkins and Denzil Hancock said it was "absolutely brilliant" news.

"This is long overdue - at last everything is coming together," Councillor Watkins told the Argus.

Councillor Hancock added: "The village deserves the attention. This is an improvement initiative that will be carried out over a period of eight years."

Consultation carried out before the declaration showed more than half of residents wanted to improve housing, public paths and alleyways, while 68 per cent wanted better car parking.