Merger plans unveiled to form 80,000-home provider

Bromford Housing Group and Flagship Housing Group have entered into discussions to form an 80,000-home provider.

Bromford has hundreds of homes across the South in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.

The merged group, which would be known as Bromford Flagship, says it will be able to release significant additional financial capacity over and above what either party could achieve alone.

This increased capacity will allow Bromford Flagship to deliver 2,000 homes each year for the next 30 years, and provide 50% of these homes at social rent.

As well as boosting capacity, the group hopes to introduce a new ‘Place Standard’ to look “beyond the fabric of each home” and consider “what is required to turn a ‘street’ into a ‘place’ where people want to live, and where customers and communities can thrive”.

A learning academy will be established to offer training opportunities to both colleagues and customers, as well as a new research and development team.

Peter Hawes, Chair of Flagship, and Steve Dando, Chair of Bromford, commented: “The need for affordable homes, the quality of service that we provide to customers and an absolute focus on place has never been more important.

“The need for strong housing associations that can deliver at scale has also never been greater. As forward thinking organisations we have robustly reviewed the benefits from coming together and strongly believe that we can do more for our existing and future customers.

“Our aim is to secure significantly increased investment, to improve existing services and deliver more benefits for current and future customers. We are excited about the huge potential this opportunity offers and the difference it could make to people’s lives and local communities”.

Bromford and Flagship say the pair will spend the upcoming months discussing and consulting the proposals with customers and colleagues.