A tenant of a tower block says he is proud of his home after a �1.2m regeneration project.

Work on Thomas England and William Pike houses, in Waterloo Gardens, Romford, was carried out by Homes in Havering (HiH), which manages Havering Council’s housing stock, as part of the �62m government’s decent homes programme.

Rob Dennington, 46, a William Pike House resident for 19 years who moved to Thomas England House, said: “I’ve undoubtedly noticed the difference. It’s really brightened the place up. Now it’s somewhere to be proud of.”

The roof areas of both blocks were insulated and re-felted. Front and balcony doors replaced, along with lifts in both buildings and double glazed windows were fitted throughout. Bird netting has been installed on balconies to prevent fouling from pigeons and the buildings have been jet-washed.

Val Poulter, tenancy and neighbourhood services officer at HiH, said: “The project ran smoothly and the estate looks transformed.”