The merger of two northern housing associations has been given the green light by residents, paving the way for the creation of a new 32,000-home landlord.

From April, Harvest Housing Group and Arena Housing will become Your Housing Group, after ‘a significant majority of respondents’ voted in favour of the union.

The merger was first mooted in October 2011, following year-long talks between the two organisations.

Kathy Cowell, designate chairman of the new housing association, said: ‘Our business is about people and communities. The new brand embodies this view and our growth through this merger; it is your home, your community, Your Housing Group, and we’re firmly rooted within that vision.’

The providers cited their strong financial positions as the main reason for the move. Together, the two are also committed to develop more than 1,300 new homes over the next three years as part of the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme after both received 100 per cent of the funding for which they applied.