The proposed merger with Severn Vale Housing has been given the go-ahead by the Bromford Board

The Board’s decision to approve the merger paves the way for the final stage in the creation of the new 44,000-home landlord in early January 2019. The new organisation, which will retain the Bromford name, will employ 1,800 staff supporting the 100,000 people who live in its homes across the Midlands and West of England.

Bromford Chief Executive Philippa Jones said: “We’re delighted that Severn Vale will be joining our organisation in the new year. Severn Vale’s operating area is in an area where we already have a significant presence as a landlord and developer and which will be increasingly important for our future growth. This merger strengthens our leading position in Gloucestershire, and will allow us to offer even more to the communities and stakeholders we are already working with.

“Both the Bromford and Severn Vale boards are confident that this merger will create an even stronger organisation that will be able to build even more new affordable homes over the next ten years to help tackle the housing crisis.”

Severn Vale Chief Executive Tim Knight said he was delighted by the Board’s decision.

“This is fantastic news for our customers and for colleagues,” he added. “By joining Bromford, we can play a central role in Gloucestershire’s ambitious plans to develop more homes for social housing, and our customers will be able to build a closer, more positive relationship with us as landlords through Bromford’s neighbourhood coaching approach.”

Earlier in the year South Gloucestershire-based Merlin Housing Society entered into a partnership with Bromford. And Severn Vale will be joining the Bromford Group by merging with Merlin in January. This means that existing Severn Vale customers will become Merlin tenants or leaseholders.

The merger will increase the number of homes Bromford owns in central and south western England to almost 44,000, including 12,000 in Gloucestershire. And over the next ten years Bromford will be aiming to grow this through an ambitious development programme that will invest £1.5bn to build 15,000 new homes, with around half of these planned for Gloucestershire.