The 900 city-centre flats will be refurbished to a level above the decent homes standard.
But Bradford City West Community Housing Trust has rejected the idea of handing over the blocks to a private developer to create yuppie flats, saying that would be "selling out" its current tenants.
Ian Simpson, executive director of the trust, said: "We've just got the beginnings of city-centre apartments in the private sector.
We want to make sure that the city renaissance includes everyone, and is not just for the city slickers."
Manchester and Liverpool councils have won plaudits for rescuing failing inner-city tower blocks by allowing developers to turn them into luxury accommodation, and Leeds council is considering similar action. But Simpson said: "We don't need to do that because we don't have a lack of demand for these blocks."
The 900-home regeneration, designed by Saltaire-based architect Halliday Clark, will take up more than half of the £50m capital programme Bradford City West has planned for the next five years.
It will be assisted by £165,000 from the city's New Deal for Communities scheme Bradford Trident, which is remodelling the walkways in the area.
The contractor, Bullock Construction, was due to start work on the scheme this week but the three-year scheme will be officially launched on 3 March, the first birthday of the registered social landlord, by housing minister Keith Hill.
The plans include wind turbines on each block to generate power to light communal areas and provide floodlighting. The buildings will be clad to improve energy efficiency and appearance, and the roofs remodelled.
Green spaces below the blocks will be re-landscaped with new play areas and trees.
Ultimately, the blocks will be brought to beyond the decent homes standard with new kitchens and bathrooms.
The RSL will also employ local artist June Russell as artist in residence, working with schoolchildren to decorate the blocks.
Source
Housing Today
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