Tewkesbury-based Bromford Housing Group has merged with Flagship Housing Group Limited to create Bromford Flagship.

This merger is a key milestone in the housing provider's strategic aim of unlocking additional capacity to deliver more affordable homes. The merger follows extensive due diligence, regulatory approvals and engagement with key stakeholders.

The organisation now owns and manages approximately 80,000 homes.

The newly formed board of directors and executive team has been confirmed. Peter Hawes, former chair of Flagship Group, will chair the board, while Bromford's Robert Nettleton has been appointed as chief executive officer for the entire group. Paul Walsh has been appointed as chief finance officer of the new organisation, continuing the role he held at Bromford.

The leadership structure aims to ensures continuity, strong governance and a blend of expertise from both organisations.

Robert Nettleton said: "The need for affordable homes, the quality of service we provide to customers and an absolute focus on place has never been more important. The need to unlock additional capacity that enables housing associations to deliver at scale has also never been greater.

"We're excited about the huge potential this opportunity offers and ultimately the ability to enable more people to thrive."

The merger unlocks significant financial capacity beyond what either organisation could achieve alone. It could allow Bromford Flagship to deliver 2,000 homes per year for the next 30 years, with an ambition for 50% to be at social rent.

Bromford was already the biggest housing association in Gloucestershire, with more than 12,000 homes in the county. It has a team of 70 neighbourhood coaches working in the communities in the county every day, building relationships with customers to help them to thrive in their homes.

In its most recent results, for the financial year ended March 31, 2024, Bromford reported turnover of £314 million and operating margin and social housing operating margin at 30% and 34% respectively.

During the year, it invested £299m in its new homes programme, completing 1,191 homes, of which 551 were for social rent, with 155 homes built by its in-house construction team.

The new organisation will also introduce new and innovative investment through the creation of a Place Standard, which will focus on transforming streets into thriving communities and places where people want to live.

In addition, Bromford Flagship is launching two major initiatives: a learning academy to provide training opportunities for colleagues and customers; and a research and development team to focus on customers' priorities and service improvements.

Bromford Housing Group Limited has been renamed Bromford Flagship Limited and now serves as the group parent. Flagship Housing Group Limited has been renamed Flagship Housing Limited and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bromford Flagship Limited. The new structure also includes Bromford Housing Association Limited, Merlin Housing Society Limited and other existing entities from both organisations