Housing associations look to join forces
TWO North West housing associations have begun talks over a possible merger.
Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) Group and Symphony Housing Group (Symphony), also based in Liverpool, have agreed to hold exploratory discussions, the two organisations have said.
Although there is no commitment as yet to join forces LMH and Symphony are carrying out a “detailed assessment” of the potential benefits a merger could generate.
The two associations say they are committed to providing continued improved value for money and delivering more and better services for their clients.
LMH chief executive Steve Coffey said: “It is essential that we invest in building new homes, improving services and delivering new services for our customers and communities.
“Whether it is helping to address the effects of austerity at a local level, or responding to the devolution agenda on both a sub-regional basis and across the North West, housing associations are ideally placed to have a positive impact upon peoples’ lives.”
Chief executive of Symphony Phil Gandy added: “On the face of it, there appears to be an excellent fit between Symphony and LMH which we will test and explore further in the coming months.
“If it becomes clear that a merger will deliver real and tangible benefits for current and future tenants and communities we will look to progress the proposal and engage in detail with all of our key stakeholders.
“Improving efficiency and value for money, together with improving services, will be firmly anchored at the heart of our deliberations and will inform any decision whether to proceed.”
