The Arcadia Housing Group and South Somerset Homes Announce Plans to Form New Housing Group

19th October 2007

South Somerset Homes (SSH) and the Arcadia Housing Group, which includes Knightstone Housing Association, have agreed to enter into formal talks with a view to creating a new Group. If it goes ahead, the new Group would manage around 20,000 homes in the South West of England and develop a substantial number of additional new homes each year.

Arcadia Group Chair, Delyth Lloyd-Evans, and SSH Chair, Tony Allum, said: "This is an exciting prospect. By combining our respective strengths and expertise, we could provide better services for residents, build more new affordable homes and reduce costs – a win-win for our residents and the communities we operate within. We would make an even bigger difference in the region and help our local authority partners tackle the growing problem of homelessness."

Both organisations have stressed that the proposal will only go ahead if benefits to current and future residents can be clearly identified. The potential merger will be explored in detail over the next few months and residents will be involved in considering any proposals.