THE £63m renovation of nearly 8,000 council homes in Oxford has been completed.

Kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, windows and roofs have been replaced as part of the Decent Homes Standard, a national target set to improve living conditions.

Work on the 7,900 homes owned by Oxford City Council started more than four years ago.

Elizabeth Mitchell’s Iffley kitchen was replaced in January and the keen cook was chuffed with the results.

She said: “It is really beautiful. It has made a huge difference and it feels a lot bigger.”

Mrs Mitchell, 67, said she did most of the cooking but admitted husband Peter, 69, took control of the stove on Sundays.

And, as a retired quality control engineer, he made sure his roast dinner was up to scratch.

The couple, who have two children and six grandchildren, have lived in their council bungalow for 12 years and it is the first time the kitchen has been replaced.

Mrs Mitchell added: “We chose it all ourselves, the door handles on the cupboards, the colours and the worktops. It is brilliant.”

The Decent Homes Standard is a minimum standard to provide a home that is warm and weather-proof, with reasonably modern facilities.

The city council said much of the work was carried out to empty properties before new tenants moved in.

Where necessary, bathrooms, kitchens and heating systems were improved, roof repairs were carried out and external doors and windows were replaced.

Council workers also ensured that electrics and insulation at properties were checked and brought up to standard if required.

Joe McManners, executive member for housing, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have achieved this.

“We have worked hard to ensure that all our properties are within the Decent Homes Standard. It is important for us to do this work and a lot of tenants are pleased we have carried out this work and improved their homes.”

The city council said it would continue to keep its properties up to the Decent Homes Standard and had an on-going programme to achieve this.