The firm behind the management and maintenance of hundreds of council homes in Winsford will soon be changing.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) has confirmed that ForHousing, which manages the homes it owns in the borough, is not expected to extend its current contract beyond June 2027.

ForHousing has been on a 10-year contract struck with local authority, with an option to extend for a further two years.

But CWAC has said that, 'due to ForHousing's current strategic direction', that contract will not extend any further.

As well as 461 in Winsford, there are a further 4,851 across the borough, largely located in Ellesmere Port, including 921 in Great Sutton, 751 in Stanney, 527 in Westminster and 443 in Grange.

A further 584 are located in the Neston area, plus six in Chester.

Residents of the total 5,312 council homes are now being asked for their preferred option on what the council should do next.

CWAC's cabinet will meet next week on Wednesday, with members expected to approve a 12-week consultation which is pencilled in for between September 23 and December 15 this year.

Tenants are expected to be provided with two options.

The first is for the council to own and manage the homes, with repairs and maintenance delivered by an external specialist contractor.

The second is for the council to find a replacement for ForHousing, with that company playing a similar role in managing and maintaining homes.

Cllr Christine Warner, cabinet member for homes, planning and safer communities, said: “These decisions are key for the future direction of council housing in the borough. I’d like to thank ForHousing and their team for their hard work in managing our council housing since 2017.

"We will continue to work together to provide good quality services to our residents. It is now important that tenants get to have their say in how their homes are managed beyond July 2027."

Also on the council agenda for September 11 will be for cabinet to approve the new Council Housing Asset Management Strategy for 2024-2029 and a 30-Year Business Plan.

This will set out how council housing in the borough will be maintained and improved, with an estimated £210 million needed to keep the housing stock safe and secure over the next 30 years.

It is also planned for council homes to be made net zero by 2045, meeting the council's target, but the local authority is aware works may be complicated by a 'relatively significant proportion' – 620 homes – having been built between the two world wars.

That is 'problematic', council documents suggest, because 'much, if not all, of this stock is likely to be solid wall construction and will require significant investment to achieve future energy efficiency standards'.

Cllr Warner added: "Following a consultation last year, the Council Housing Asset Management Strategy is now complete and ready for publication.

"It includes actions to improve the wellbeing of council tenants, and ensure homes are fit for purpose, safe to live in, meet the needs of residents, and reduce carbon emissions.

“We want to make sure that the council provides affordable homes of the right type and quality.

"It is about more than just homes though, this strategy will help to make sure our communities remain pleasant places to live and deliver thriving and sustainable neighbourhoods."