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Housing Plus and Wrekin to complete 34,000-home merger in January
Housing Plus Group and The Wrekin Housing Group will complete their merger into a 34,000-home landlord in January.
The tie-up between the two West Midlands housing associations, first announced in July, will be formalised in the new year once all legal and regulatory requirements have been met. At that point, Wrekin will become part of the new Housing Plus Group.
Wayne Gethings has been appointed chief executive designate to lead the new organisation. He will work alongside Catherine Dass, the chair designate, and Debbie Griffiths, who will be senior independent director and vice-chair.
Ms Dass is currently a board member of Housing Plus, while Ms Griffiths is a Wrekin board member.
Sarah Boden, chief executive of Housing Plus, has decided to retire after 38 years in the housing sector.
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A total of 3,549 Wrekin and Housing Plus residents responded to a consultation on the merger. Those with both landlords said that repairs are a key priority for the merged organisation, along with improvements to their homes, building new homes and feeling safe in their homes.
The merged organisation will be one of the largest housing associations in the West Midlands with 34,000 homes, 1,800 employees and a turnover of £250m.
Wrekin owns 13,000 homes across Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire and Staffordshire, while Housing Plus owns 19,000 homes across Staffordshire and Shropshire. Both Wrekin and Housing Plus have G1 and V2 grades from the Regulator of Social Housing.
The merged organisation plans to invest an additional £55m in existing homes and will be “a key developer of new homes” over the next five years.
The new organisation has also promised to increase its social impact by developing “many more new homes for those in housing need”, accelerating improvements to existing homes and investing in the health and well-being of residents.
These changes will not affect any customer’s right to live in their home and there will be no changes to existing tenancy or lease agreements because of the merger. Residents will continue to access services by contacting their landlord the same way they do now.
Mr Gethings said: “Our combined geography will enable the new organisation to maintain its local focus, investing in additional community hubs to take services even closer to customers and maintain strong connections with communities across Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Telford and Wrekin.”
Ms Dass said: “The merger will help us to make a real and lasting positive difference to the people and communities that we serve. We look forward to bringing our combined expertise together to support people right across Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Telford and Wrekin.
“I would also take this opportunity, on behalf of everyone at Housing Plus Group, to thank Sarah Boden for her 38 years’ service in the social housing sector, including as a chief executive of Severnside Housing and then Housing Plus Group. She leaves Housing Plus Group in a strong and healthy position as we step forward into this merger.”
Ms Griffiths said: “Bringing our two organisations together will enable us to invest more in our existing homes, as well as creating more new homes for our future customers.”
