Combined group will build more affordable housing across the North

Manchester-based housing associations Great Places and Equity Housing Group are set to merge next month to form a new provider with more than 24,000 homes on its books.

Great Places housing association

The pair said the tie-up, first mooted as a partnership last year, would build more affordable housing across the North-west, Yorkshire and Staffordshire.

As of 1 April 2020, Equity Housing Group, which operates nearly 5,000 homes, will cease to exist, with its assets transferring to Great Places.

Matthew Harrison, Great Places’ chief executive, who is set to head the newly-combined operation, said the organisation would pursue “ambitious development targets”.

As it unveiled the merger, Great Places announced it would spend invest £14.5m on building nearly 100 new homes in Blackburn (pictured), 16 of which will be built using modular construction, on the site of a derelict former nursing home.

It is also delivering a £2.7m scheme of 21 homes for affordable and social rent in the Little Hulton district of Salford, a development is located close to The Wells on Old Lane, an £8.6m mixed-tenure site delivering 83 new homes.