Employees at offices belonging to VIVID, Hampshire’s largest provider of affordable homes, today (24 April) celebrated the launch of the new organisation, which has been formed from the merger of housing associations First Wessex and Sentinel.

With offices in Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Aldershot and Eastleigh, VIVID has around 70,000 customers who’ve been kept informed about the benefits the merger will bring.  The new company has ambitious plans to build at least 1,200 new homes a year to help address the housing crisis in the region and currently has around 30,000 homes mostly in Hampshire.  It also has its own construction arm called VIVID Build and a repairs team.  

Peter Walters, Chief Executive at VIVID said: “We’re very excited by the positive impact that VIVID will make on our ability to build more homes for local people, whilst continuing to deliver great services to customers. As a locally based business we’re highly knowledgeable of the region, housing need and challenges. Our ambition is to maximise opportunities to make more housing available and affordable to everyone.”

Mark Perry, Chief Executive Designate, said: “VIVID brings together the expertise, financial strength and housebuilding potential of two well established, innovative and successful organisations. And we’ve created a high performing and influential business, better placed to respond to the ever-changing environment in which we work for the benefit of current and future customers. Our plans to build 1,200 new homes a year include a mix of social and affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale.”

Peter Walters, former Chief Executive of First Wessex will step down from his transitional role as VIVID’s Chief Executive in six months to pursue other career opportunities, after which Mark Perry, who was previously Sentinel’s Chief Executive will formally take over.