A MASSIVE £6.8 million overhaul of York's council homes will be carried out next year.

More than 1,600 of City of York Council's 9,000 homes are set for improvements following a government settlement described by the city's housing chiefs as "excellent."

Among the plans are:

lFitting new windows to 630 homes

lProviding central heating in 80 homes

lAdapting more than 900 homes for disabled residents

lModernising 485 homes through tenants' choice, which allows residents a selection of options including kitchens and bathrooms

lBuilding 57 new affordable homes, in partnership with housing associations.

John Hocking, City of York Council's assistant director of the housing service, said: "Each year the Government rates each authority, and we have been put in the top rating and are well above average.

"It is down to an excellent performance right across the board for housing, and that has certainly been taken into account when this settlement was decided.

"It is excellent news and it means we can get a lot of good things done during the next year."

The cash, an increase of £1.4 million on last year's settlement, is part of a £284 million hand-out for housing improvements to be shared across authorities in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Coun David Horton, the council's spokesman for housing, said: "This is extremely positive news and it will be a great benefit to the city's tenants.

"The new affordable housing is to be particularly welcomed because it will take people off our housing waiting list.

"With this following Thursday's announcement of £28 million for transport, it has been an excellent week for York."

Janice Gray, of the Tang Hall Residents' Association, said: "This is a lot of money and it has to be good news.

"I know things like double glazing and central heating make a lot of difference, and tenants will be very happy to get it."

Housing Minister Nick Raynsford said: "We have made a commitment that all council housing will be brought up to a decent standard by 2010. Resources are now available to achieve this and we will be monitoring authorities' progress."