Mears has been awarded a contract valued up to £290m to upgrade 12,500 council homes over a 10-year period for Brighton and Hove City Council.

The contract will cover major planned upgrades such as new kitchens and bathrooms, window replacements, electrical rewiring and cyclical decorations. It will also include a responsive repair and maintenance service.

The council is also insisting on an eco-friendly approach to the upgrade work. It will introduce measures to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, help residents lower their heating bills and tackle fuel poverty. Mears is also committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The contract is due to be signed off over the summer and will start in April 2010.