A pair of housing associations have agreed to merge into a single entity which will own and manage more than 37,000 homes and employ in excess of 1,400 people across the Midlands and East of England.
The aim is for Grand Union Housing Group and Longhurst Group to come together formally and legally in December under a new name and brand.
The two housing associations announced their intention to merge in July and have since completed a consultation with their customers about the proposal and undergone a process of due diligence before reaching their final decision.
A shadow board and shadow executive team have been appointed and will take on responsibility for the leading new organisation.
Chief executive of the new entity will be current Longhurst Group chief executive Julie Doyle, while Emma Killick, currently chair of Grand Union’s board, will become chair.
Doyle said: “A significant amount of work has already taken place and I can’t wait to formally bring the two organisations together in December.
“I’m looking forward to working with Emma and the rest of the board, and senior leadership team, to bring both organisations together and ensure we have the plans in place to realise our objectives.
“Both organisations have acknowledged that we haven’t got everything right and there are improvements we need to make, but the opportunity to merge brings with it fantastic potential for us to achieve even more, building more affordable homes and being a reliable and trusted landlord that delivers the homes and services that our customers need and expect.”
Killick said: “It’s a real privilege to take on the role of chair as we bring these fantastic organisations together.
“Our new organisation will have significant potential to make a positive difference to thousands of people’s lives across the regions we serve, improving the homes and services we provide and building more homes.
“I’m really looking forward to working more closely with Julie Doyle. We share the same drive and passion to improve the lives of people who rely upon us the most and her philosophy and her values align so closely with those of Grand Union.
“Bringing the two organisations together really does seem like the perfect fit and we’ll be in extremely safe hands with Julie at the helm.”
After 25 years with the company, Aileen Evans, the current chief executive of Grand Union, decided not to put herself forward for a role with the new organisation and will step down from Grand Union once the merger is completed.
“Aileen has been pivotal to ensuring that Grand Union has continued to deliver on its purpose of providing homes for those that need them,” added Killick. “In recent years, she’s continued this fantastic work despite the sector experiencing some of the most challenging environments it has faced in years, including the pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Aileen. With her fantastic reputation and profile in the housing sector, a sector I know she retains huge affection for, I’m sure she’ll continue to be a force for good and drive change and improvement.
“I, along with the rest of the board and all Grand Union colleagues, thank her wholeheartedly and wish her all the very best for the future.”
Evans, who will still serve on the board of the Chartered Institute of Housing and volunteer for Furnishing Futures – a charity that creates healing homes for domestic abuse survivors – said: “Stepping down from Grand Union is the hardest decision I’ve ever made.
“It’s a bit of a cliché, but it genuinely has been a privilege to lead Grand Union over the last seven years and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved in my time as chief executive.
“I’m incredibly grateful to those who have helped us achieve what we have. Every day I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside amazing colleagues and board members and got to see the positive impact they consistently have.
“Julie will be a fantastic CEO of the newly merged organisation, her values and integrity guide everything she does, and I feel happy in entrusting Grand Union’s proud legacy to her.
“After a bit of a break, I’ll still be around in the sector. As well as all the other issues facing the sector, there’s a housing crisis to solve.”
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