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New partner helps break the 20,000 barrier

Sovereign Housing Group had a busy start to the new financial year with an internal stock rationalisation and a new Group member - taking its stock to over 20,000 homes across south and south-west England.

Abingdon-based Vale Housing Association Ltd joined the Group on 2 April and has already received a transfer of 154 Oxfordshire homes from L&Q’s subsidiary, Beacon Homes, co-ordinated through Sovereign.

Vale now manages more than 5,300 properties and believes that joining Sovereign will allow the organisation to focus on delivering frontline services, while relying on the Group for development and support service expertise.

Meanwhile, the Group also carried out an internal management transfer when Christchurch-based Twynham HA began managing 1,039 Sovereign HA properties in Dorset and south Hampshire from 1 April. This move has allowed Sovereign to sell its Bournemouth office, so releasing further funds to reinvest in homes and services.

Sovereign Housing Group Chief Executive Ann Santry said:
“The addition of the Vale to our Group is great news for residents, staff and other stakeholders. But no matter how big landlords get, it’s vital they remain close to the customer. That is why we see stock rationalisation as one of several ways to further improve our services on the ground.”

The latest moves follow on the heels of Sovereign HA’s transfer of 100 homes in Cornwall to Devon & Cornwall HA a year ago. Alongside a continuing strong development programme, Sovereign HA will also consult its Oxfordshire residents about an intra-group transfer to Vale in 2008.

Vale’s new Managing Director Steve Russell, who has taken over from former Chief executive Mike Roberts, added:
“We’re very pleased to have joined the Sovereign Housing Group. As Oxfordshire has more than 30 landlords, it’s also logical to consolidate the L&Q, and hopefully Sovereign, stock under the Vale banner in this area.

”It is an exciting time for us and we look forward to accomplishing a lot in the years ahead. The next stage is to make the most of our existing assets and access greater investment from the Housing Corporation to meet housing needs in Oxfordshire.”

Published 17 April 2007
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