Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Partly sunnyNews
| 
Submit Comments
Housing trusts set for merger talks
21/12/2005
DARNHILL estate's landlords, the Guinness Trust, look set to merge with one of the prime housing associations in the north of England.
The boards of Northern Counties Housing Association, which has its HQ in Manchester and a base in Rochdale, and the Guinness Trust have agreed to begin talks in the new year.
It has been stressed the merger would be 'a partnership of equals' with neither side taking over the other.
And, in a separate move, four of the Trust's maintenance workers at Darnhill have been made redundant, but a spokesman said: "We are now looking at whether we can redeploy these four within the Guinness Trust."
Both housing groups in the merger plans describe themselves as 'social landlords' whose business is managing not just bricks and mortar but regenerating whole communities.
Guinness Trust took over management of the Darnhill estate six years ago from Manchester City Council, who had built it after the war to house hundreds of overspill families as wholesale clearance of terraced streets began.
The estate comprises 1,000 homes and 92 per cent of residents voted for Guinness to take over from the city council. One of the first things Guinness did was to demolish four high-rise blocks of flats which had always been Darnhill's distinctive - but unloved - skyline landmark.
Northern Counties is a similar size but its properties are mainly in the North and Midlands.
Chief executive Simon Dow said: "There is a good geographical fit between us and thus real potential to deliver much-improved services to residents at lower cost, as well as providing new homes, particularly in the north."
In a brief statement posted on their websites, both housing associations say they have started consulting with staff, residents and partners and a final decision on whether the merger goes ahead will be taken in the spring.
Most recent 1 of 1 user comments
Got an opinion you want to share?| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| AA | 7.9% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.2% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Abbey Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
4.50% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
1.75% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
2.25% |
21/12/2005 at 14:28