AFTER years of providing homes for other people a housing company is moving into its own premises next week.

Dale and Valley Homes, which manages council housing in Wear Valley, formed in 2006 but its 81 staff work from various offices in the area.

But from May 11 they will all be based at new offices at South Church Enterprise Park, Bishop Auckland.

Peter Chaffer, chief executive, said: "For the first time we will be able to have all our staff under the same roof, which will help us to be more efficient and provide better services to our customers.

"We have sent information about the move to all our tenants, who will still be able to contact us easily and cheaply.

"There will also be space for our customer panel to have an office, brining us even closer to them."

Lesley Mellis, customer panel secretary, said she is looking forward to clearing space in her home.

She said: "Having customers involved in the way estates are run is important for the improvement of services to tenants across the district.

"I love doing this job but it does involve a lot of paperwork."

The new offices are open to customers but will not be accepting cash payments over the counter.

Counter services at Woodhouse Close and Crook Civic Centre will continue as normal.