Residents consulted over plans to merge CDHT and Cosmopolitan
Improved services for customers will be available if residents decide to back plans to merge two significant housing associations in the North West.
Residents of Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) and Cosmopolitan Housing Group in Liverpool are being consulted with a personal letter today (THURSDAY) to see if they back proposals to merge the two registered social landlords, which would see combined assets with a market value of more than £875 million and more than 12,500 properties across West Cheshire, Merseyside and the North West. Residents will also receive a bulletin newsletter (ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13) with a Question & Answer section inviting questions, giving more information about consultation events.
Colleagues have been consulted and preliminary discussions have been carried out between Board and Resident Board Members of both housing associations.
CDHT Chief Executive John Denny said:
“There is a great fit between both organisations. This merger would create further opportunities for residents, maintaining and improving services; together we are stronger in what we predict will be a challenging financial climate in the immediate future. By working together we can put more homes on the ground by combining our development budgets, as well as safeguarding and creating jobs with no increase in rent payments, so it is a win-win situation which allows for more growth.”
Geoff Redhead, Cosmopolitan Housing Group Chief Executive, added:
“This is exciting news for everyone. Discussions will continue over the coming months with residents, Board members, colleagues and key stakeholders to look at the best way to maximise the combined expertise and efficiency of our organisations, whilst ensuring that our services to customers and relationships with stakeholders are not disrupted in any way.”
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Notes to editors
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is a dynamic and enterprising organisation at the forefront of delivering positive impacts in the communities with which it works. The Trust’s homes span six communities – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
Committed to the best principles of social enterprise with over 14,000 local customers in 6,200 properties and 53% of its 275 colleagues living within its communities, the Trust adheres to key commitments and principles relating to people, places, partnerships and performance which underpin the Vision to ‘create opportunity’, through its mission, ‘by doing the right thing’.
The Trust is about being transparent and accountable in everything that is done and to this end is one of the first organisations nationally to have established a Residents’ Board, with full delegated powers from the Trust Board, to direct services which impact upon their lives.
The Trust has a comprehensive development programme delivering over 330 new homes including the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester providing new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.
CDHT also provides services on a partnership basis, to a number of other customers e.g. Telecare services, TrustWorks Maintenance Services, Housing Options advice, waiting list management and choice based lettings to neighbouring local authorities and registered social landlords.
The Trust is rated as two Star excellent by the Audit Commission, has the highest possible rating from Telecare Services Association and is also credited Investors in People and is the overall Employer of the Year For Cheshire West. It has been in the ‘Top 100 Sunday Times best companies to work for’ for the last 3 years, reaching its highest position of 47th this year.
For more details please visit www.cdht.org or request a copy of CDHT’s Corporate Plan 2009-2014.
CDHT Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood
E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370
Jane Harrad-Roberts
E: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07785 395705
W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk T: 01244 330000
Cosmopolitan Housing Group is the parent company of a diverse range of organisations engaged in the provision of social housing, accommodation for students and young professionals and innovative housing and development solutions.
Cosmopolitan Housing Association owns and manages more than 2,500 homes for a broad range of client groups in Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, Wirral, Halton, West Lancashire, Warrington, West Cheshire and St Helens. Cosmopolitan also acts in a landlord role for specialist Supported Housing providers across the country.
Cosmopolitan Student Homes has more than 3,500 student and young professional homes, with further developments planned. Its stock is largely across the North of England, with properties located in Liverpool, Manchester, Salford, Preston, Bradford, Ormskirk and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Cosmopolitan Enterprises Limited was established in June 2003 to enable the Group to improve its market position and take maximum advantage of new commercially orientated housing and development opportunities that allow it to increase and enhance its social and student housing stock.
More info at www.cosmopolitanhousinggroup.co.uk
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