As of 1 July Sovereign Housing Group and Wessex Housing Partnership are joining together to form an enlarged group, which will retain the Sovereign name. At the same time, Wessex Housing Partnership’s main subsidiaries – Kingfisher HA and HVHS Housing Group will also unite to form Kingfisher HVHS Housing Association. Kingfisher HVHS will be Sovereign’s fourth partner member, alongside Sovereign, Twynham and The Vale Housing Associations.
The enlarged Sovereign Group will now encompass more than 30,000 homes across south and south west England, making it one of the country’s largest housing groups. Sovereign’s strategy of stock rationalisation has already seen almost 3000 homes transferred within and outside of the Group to provide more locally-based services. The amalgamation consolidates the Group’s presence in Hampshire, and supports further rationalisation. In due course SHA residents in Hampshire will be consulted about changing to Kingfisher HVHS – a more locally-based landlord.
This is the first group to group amalgamation since the TSA was formed and comes after many months of planning and negotiation in a difficult financial climate.
Ann Santry, Chief Executive of Sovereign Housing Group, said, “This amalgamation will put the Group in a strong position to deliver our goals of excellent homes and services. We are particularly delighted that our lenders’ supportive approach means residents will benefit from the full financial gains of the union.”
The new group will retain the Sovereign name, and will simply be referred to as Sovereign, using the new brand identity that is also launched this week.
Carol Williams, Managing Director of Kingfisher HVHS Housing Association, commented, “Uniting Kingfisher and HVHS will enable us to be a stronger association benefiting residents, neighbourhoods and communities with increased investment at a local level. We will have the support of a dynamic and effective group as we continue to deliver services to our residents. We have already seen benefits from joining the Sovereign Development Consortium in April, and I am convinced that we will see even more as members of Sovereign Housing Group.”
