Twynham Housing Association is looking for a partner to enter into a group structure, and a new chief executive to lead the troubled landlord out of Housing Corporation supervision.
Consultant Julian Ashby of Hacas Chapman Hendy has been working closely with Twynham's board to determine the way forward. He stressed that the association was under no pressure from the corporation to join a group but wanted to regain its development capability quickly. "If you don't have people with a good track record, there's nothing to attract funding," he said. "If Twynham joins a group with a successful development department, those concerns evaporate."

The Christchurch-based association was placed under supervision in October 2002 after it broke procedural rules for claiming development grants. A £600,000 development grant was subsequently frozen and outstanding projects taken on by other associations.

When Cyril Downing, Twynham's chief executive since 1991, retired, the corporation replaced him with interim boss Ian Matthews, seconded from Parchment Housing Association for six months.

Twynham will approach a shortlist of potential partners in early April, with a view to making the final selection by July. A parent would likely demand the Housing Corporation's all-clear before the structure was completed. Ashby hopes this will happen by December.

"I expect there will no shortage of interest," he said.

Source

Housing Today