Wythenshawe and Southway complete merger

Two Greater Manchester landlords have completed their merger to form a 21,000-home landlord.

Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, which owns around 14,000 homes, has merged with 6,800-home landlord Southway Housing Trust.

Under the deal that completed yesterday, Southway no longer exists as a separate legal entity and its assets, staff and liabilities have now transferred to Wythenshawe.

The enlarged provider will be known as Southway Wythenshawe until it is rebranded next year. It will manage nearly 21,000 home and have a joint turnover of £135m (see box below).

The providers last month said the merger will make the organisation financially stronger and more resilient while helping it “meet residents’ needs and aspirations and provide greater value for money.”

The merged organisation is aiming to invest around £2bn in existing homes in the next 30 years as well as deliver 3,200 new homes, which it said is 750 more than the organisations were targeting separately.

It has also promised to increase the number of neighbourhood housing officers and reduce patch sizes.

The landlords said resident rights, rent and services will remain the same following approval of the merger. 

John Bowker, current Southway Housing Trust boss, is now chief executive of the new organisation, while Nick Crofts, chair of Wythenshawe, is chair.