Boards sign off South Manchester housing association merger

Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and Southway Housing Trust have taken a step towards amalgamation in November.

The organisations’ respective boards have approved the merger, first mooted in May, that will see WCHG and Southway join forces following a 10-week consultation that sought the views of residents.

The merger will see the two groups’ 21,000 combined homes managed by a single entity going forward.

The new organisation will initially be known as Southway Wythenshawe Homes, while work continues on a long-term name and brand.

It will be led by John Bowker, Southway Housing Trust’s current chief executive, who will become chief executive of the new entity, and Nick Crofts, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group’s current chair, who will become chair.

“Residents have been clear about what matters most to them: good-quality homes, reliable repairs and services they can trust. These priorities will guide us as we bring our organisations together,” Bowker said.

“By combining our strengths, we can invest more in existing homes, build more affordable homes and strengthen the support we offer across our communities. I’m looking forward to working with residents and colleagues to turn these ambitions into improvements people can see and experience.”

Between them, WCHG and Southway have already committed to develop 2,700 affordable homes by 2030, and a new combined organisation with a stronger balance sheet would be able to surpass this ambition and reach 3,200 units over the next half-decade.

Southway currently manages more than 6,500 homes across Greater Manchester, with most of its homes in south Manchester areas such as Burnage, Chorlton, Didsbury and Withington.

WCHG owns and manages 14,000 homes in Wythenshawe and surrounding areas.