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Midlands association launches new business plan as flat group structure confirmed
Midlands housing association Longhurst Group has finalised plans for a flat group structure and launched a new business strategy.
The 22,500-home landlord said the new, simpler structure will help speed up decision-making and improve efficiency and services when it comes into effect on 1 July.
A six-week consultation with residents attracted 163 responses with 71% in favour of the proposals and another 9% expressing no preference.
Shareholders and board members from all the group’s existing boards unanimously approved the move at a special general meeting.
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Some board members will be released as part of the changes but Longhurst has said there will be no direct redundancies.
Julie Doyle, chief executive of Longhurst, told Inside Housing the association will “surpass” £500,000 of promised annual savings through the new structure which it will recycling into achieving goals in its new strategy, badged “2025, Improving Lives”.
“We’ll be making savings from the restructuring, and the efficiencies that gives us can be put directly back into the services, so we’ll be employing more staff and working with partner organisations to provide more services,” she said.
“In the 2025 vision there are two main strands for our general needs housing: health and well-being and economic resilience.
“We’re looking at how we can get tailored support into our general needs offer, including by trying to mainstream age modifications for older people and those with a disability but also if you’re a carer or if you have family with accessibility needs when they come to stay.”
Longhurst currently employs more than 1,200 people across its group, which includes Longhurst and Havelok Homes, Axiom Housing Association, Spire Homes, Friendship Care and Housing, and private development arm Keystone.
Keystone and funding vehicle Libra Treasury will continue to be separate entities within the Longhurst group.
