Millions of pounds will be spent by Swindon Borough Council on upgrading bathrooms and insulation in some of the 10,000 council houses and flats it owns.

This will be an attempt to improve the health of the council’s tenants and address fuel poverty – which can also lead to health problems.

Members of the authority’s adults’ health care and housing overview and scrutiny were due to receive a report at their meeting on Thursday, which has been postponed owing to the death of the Queen.

The report, written by the council’s head of housing Mike Ash makes plain the link between poor housing and poor health, and how housing inequalities lead to health inequalities.

The report says: “For more than 150 years various studies have shown a correlation between health and housing inequalities. This is perhaps the most obvious difference across the population.

"For example, although now relatively low, childhood mortality was high in England and Wales in the 1850s, with a quarter of children dying before the age of five.

“As a more rural settlement Swindon generally fared better, but even in the South West and Wales, particularly in mining areas like South Wales and Cornwall, children were vulnerable to deadly lung diseases, exacerbated by pollution

“Fast-forward 150 years, and although overall living standards have massively improved, the underlying causes of ill-health haven't changed in many aspects relating to housing conditions and importantly the link to poverty.”

Mr Ash says the improvement in housing stock brought about by the government’s Decent Homes standard has helped.

And he says Swindon’s social housing meets that standard “in all but a handful of properties where access and agreement from our tenants has not been possible.”

Mr Ash adds that the standards are expected to be revised soon and that the council is conducting its own condition survey on the homes it owns, with all stock surveyed over a five-year period, but with 40 per cent assessed in the first year.

Saying “modern bathrooms are key to a healthy living environment”, Mr Ash added the committee that more than £5m has been allocated to upgrading bathrooms in council houses and flats in this financial year and adds there will also be 'insulation measures to improve the thermal efficiency of our homes that resolve unhealthy living conditions and address fuel poverty in our worst performing properties'.

Just under £3m is allocated to deliver external wall insulation this follows successful schemes already completed in separate locations and differing property types in Pinehurst and Stratton.”