Contour forms a Symphony with Vicinity
TWO not-for-profit housing organisations have merged to form a new regional housing group.
Contour Housing and Vicinity Housing Group have been amalgamated and will now be known as Symphony Housing Group.
The merger makes Symphony be the largest registered social landlord based solely in the north west. It will own and manage more than 40,000 homes, employ over 1,000 staff and have a projected turnover of £140m.
Phil Gandy, former chief executive of Vicinity Housing Group will now run the combined group. He said: “Symphony Housing Group will focus on the provision of high quality, affordable housing and the delivery of excellent services to tenants.
“The demands upon social landlords are increasing and our roles extending. This creates new challenges and opportunities that the Symphony Group will be well positioned to grasp.”
Mike Creamer, former chief executive of Contour Housing Group, will leave the group follwing a short tranisition perid.
Many housing associations have been merging group functions in a bid reduce overheads as they face worsening funding climates.
Symphony, for instance, is now a federated partnership of seven diffierent housing associations – Contour Homes, Liverpool Housing Trust, Ribble Valley Homes and Peak Valley Housing Association.
