Bury calls time on social housing subsidiary
Six Town Housing will be wound up after a strategic review into its future deemed the commercial and regulatory risks of continuing to operate too high.
Six Town was previously the council’s arms-length management organisation, in control of Bury’s council homes.
However, in 2024, its ALMO role was discontinued. Six Town is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the council and manages 149 social homes across the borough.
A review into its future found that Six Town’s current governance arrangements put it and the council “at regulatory and reputational risk”, according to a cabinet report.
The business also “requires a disproportionate level of senior leadership time” when the size of its portfolio is taken into account.
In order for Six Town to become viable, significant investment and time to grow its portfolio would be needed, the report adds.
If the option to close Six Town is approved next week, Six Town’s assets would be taken in house or sold on to third parties.
The report states that the impact of the closure of Six Town Housing on tenants is the “upmost priority”.
