The boards of Optivo and Southern Housing Group have approved proposals to merge and create a new 77,000-home social landlord.
The new organisation will be named Southern Housing and the target date for formal completion is early 2023.
Discussions about a potential merger began in March this year before being subject to due diligence and successful negotiations. An engagement programme also followed to give residents, staff and external partners an opportunity to feed into the detailed discussions.
By coming together, the merger aims to create an organisation that’s big but local – rooted in key communities, with the scale to have a greater impact. In challenging times, the merger will build a strong and resilient organisation focused on delivering excellent resident services.
A commitment has been made to not only maintain a presence on the Isle of Wight, but to remain committed to residents and providing the provision of high-quality care.
Paul Hackett CBE, chief executive designate of Southern Housing, has said:
“I’m delighted both boards have approved the merger proposals and we now look forward to combining forces next year. This merger isn’t about growing into a large national organisation; it’s about doing what we do better in the communities we already work in. Residents will be at the heart of our services and we’ll use our size to influence positive change in the areas where we operate.”
Sir Peter Dixon, chair designate of Southern Housing, said:
“We believe in these very challenging economic times, we will be more financially resilient by joining forces. This will enable us to continue to develop new homes and meet sustainability commitments. Our history stretches back to the early 20th century, but our social purpose of helping those with a housing need remains today.”
Having reached the stage where the creation of the new organisation has been agreed, Alan Townshend CEO of Southern Housing Group announced that he will be stepping down following the successful completion of the merger.
Explaining his decision, Alan Townshend said:
“I am proud of getting us to the stage where the agreement to merge has been approved by both Boards, however having reached this point the time is right for me to step aside and let others take the reins of the new organisation. I know Paul has a great team alongside him that are committed to delivering on our promise of great local services and I will be fully involved in guiding the day one integration process over the next few months before moving on.”
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Changes to the new Executive Team at Southern Housing will be announced shortly.
I’m waiting on getting my shower fixed as from yesterday. Got told didn’t know whether they could get someone as yet. Having a disabled person in family and no bath still didn’t make me a priority. Southern Housing were better on their own from what l remember. My daughter waited a year to get her roof fixed. Still waiting on repair on bathroom ceiling from the roof leaking. She’s with Sovereign
Lucky you have social housing, we’ve been waiting over 10 years for a social house, with two disabled family members, stuck in the private rented sector which the rent has increased twice this year.
Not enough houses, not the tenant being lucky
pay for it yourself instead of expecting others to do it
So you have clearly never been a tenant or landlord, then?
If you had you would be aware that it is the landlord that is responsible for repairs to the fabric of the building.
Why so rude, you do not know the financial circumstances.
Wighter is a one of three things:
1. He genuinely is the nasty, bigotted old slab of gammon he seems to be.
2. He is a pathetic troll intent on winding up decent people.
3. He’s “false flagging” by pretending to be a parody of the worst kind of gammon to discredit others who post similar views.
Given how ludicrous most of his bleating is, and how he tries to wedge one of his rabid right views into any article that can even remotely be connected with one of his pet peeves, I’m going with option 3.
no timms – it is mugs like you that are foolishly sat there paying through the nose in taxes, busting a gut working, whilst others sit on their backsides, laughing at you, whilst claiming benefits and expecting the world to carry them from cradle to grave.
a deep recession, with high inflation, will bring these leeches down to earth, when they realise that they have to actually go without and the world doesn’t owe them a living.
we are in the financial tightening part of the monetary cycle – that means cash removed from the system and destroyed, which ultimately means less to go around and voila – benefit cuts/freezes
instead of opening the door for every sob story to sponge – get rid of the leeches and only support workers
That’s what rents for
Good advice Isle of Wighter
if a single parent has a impaired child I fully understand they need financial and other help .
But what I don’t get is a couple with a impaired child in some way where it only takes one of the parents to look after the child and obviously can’t work at all why the mother or father don’t get a job , but I suppose that would drastically cut all the benefits so why should they
correct it would cut their benefits – they have no ambition and no sense of purpose, other than to sponge off the state because their kid is apparently disabled.
the sooner the crunch comes and these leeches have to go without the better – then one of them will have to find work
next year is expected to be far higher inflation overall – this recession is just getting started and those on benefits are really going to find out that choosing a benefit lifestyle wasn’t the best choice they ever made.
Dear o dear. You have to wait to get your shower fixed. Let me tell you something you are blessed.
The amount of freeloaders!!!
Does this mean that there will actually be some social housing available then for a change? No, probably not.
Stop morons parking on Pavements outside properties.
Persons may rent or own a property, but many think they own the pavement
outside where they live.
Great Preston Road in Ryde is an example of Morons parking on
Pavements.
Lack of education is my guess.