Milton Keynes-based Grand Union Housing Group and Rushden-based Longhurst Group have agreed to come together and merge as single entity after Boards at both organisations unanimously agreed to the proposal and signed off a detailed business case.
The aim is for both organisations to come together formally and legally in December under a new name and brand.
The new organisation will own and manage over 37,000 homes and employ over 1,400 colleagues across the Midlands and East of England. This will make it one of the largest housing associations in the region.
By joining together, the organisations say they will unlock significant potential to invest even more in their existing homes and communities, while building more much needed affordable homes and improving the services their customers receive.
Back in July, the two housing associations announced their intention to merge and have since completed a consultation with their customers about the proposal and undergone a process of due diligence before reaching their final decision.
Lasting six weeks, the customer consultation closed in September and saw just under 2,000 customers provide feedback, either by post, online or over the phone.
In total, 47 percent of all feedback from customers of both organisations was positive or very positive, with only 20 percent negative or very negative.
A Shadow Board and Shadow Executive Team have been appointed and will take on responsibility for the new organisation.
Chief Executive of the new organisation will be current Longhurst Group Chief Executive, Julie Doyle, while Emma Killick, currently Chair of Grand Union’s Board, will become Chair.
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.
Emma Killick, Chair of Grand Union, 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.”
Julie Doyle, Chief Executive of Longhurst Group, said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed Chief Executive of the new organisation. 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 aware I have some very big boots to fill. I’m proud to class Aileen as a friend and she’s someone I have huge respect and admiration for. I’m confident that the new organisation will build on these principles to ensure we’re able to do even more for our customers, the communities we serve and our colleagues.
“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.”
Reflecting on the integral role Aileen Evans has played in Grand Union’s growth and success over the years, Emma Killick added: “Aileen has been pivotal to ensuring that Grand Union has continued to deliver on its purpose of providing homes for those that need them.
“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.”
Aileen became Group Chief Executive in July 2017, having previously been Group Operations Director. Under her leadership, Grand Union came together as a single organisation following a unification, then moved to a single office in Milton Keynes. From there, the organisation has started to transform and modernise the way it works, by using data and technology to improve services for customers and colleagues.
Aileen, 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.”
