A2 Housing Group was officially created on 1 February 2005 and resulted from the merger of two leading housing associations, Airways Housing Group and Apex Housing Group.
History of Airways Housing Group
The British Airways Staff Housing Society was registered on 6 January 1947 with membership of the Society open to anyone who worked in the aviation or related industries. The Society approached BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) for help in developing properties and Airways Housing Trust was set up to provide this financial assistance – possibly the country’s first ‘key worker’ project!
In 1984 the Society decided to seek to purchase the Trust and all its assets from British Airways in order to meet a wider range of housing needs. Thus in 1987 Airways Housing Society Limited was formed leaving behind British Airways. The company continued to grow until 2001 when a group structure was formed to allow the company to continue to diversify.
This was made up of the following housing providers:
- Airways Housing Society catered for general needs housing.
- Airways Home Ownership provided shared ownership schemes (including ‘do it yourself shared ownership’, starter home initiatives and key worker accommodation)
- Airways Court Housing provided specialist care and support for the elderly.
- Airways Enterprises provided income through commercial investment, as well as key worker schemes.
- Airways Housing Finance for non-grant funded initiatives.
The Group had over 5000 homes in management and was a major provider of housing for people seeking homes in the west of London and the Thames Valley.
History of Apex Housing Group
Spelthorne Housing Association was formed in 1996 via the transfer of properties from Spelthorne Borough Council. Apex Housing Group was then formed in 1999. Apex was made up of the following companies:
- Spelthorne Housing Association – Originally set up in 1991 as Thamesbridge, changed its name in 1996 to receive the stock transfer from Spelthorne Borough Council. As a charitable Register Social Landlord (RSL),it provided a range of affordable accommodation in the Spelthorne area.
- Apex Housing Solutions was a charitable RSL which developed in local authority areas outside the Spelthorne Area, as well as undertaking major key worker housing projects.
- Kingsbridge Residential was an investment company set up in 2001 to manage the Group’s market rented properties and undertake new developments for outright sale.
- Apex Development Services was set up to manage the Group’s development activity.
Apex Housing Group grew to be one of the largest housing associations in the South East, owning and managing over 5,000 properties across a range of tenures and geographical areas.
A2 today
A2 now manage 13,000 homes for affordable rent, shared ownership, key worker and private accommodation across the South East. We are made up of the following companies:
- A2 Home Ownership – provides low cost home ownership properties.
- A2 Housing Care and Support – provides accommodation and care for the elderly.
- A2 Housing Solutions – provides a range of affordable housing, including a range of key worker accommodation.
- Airways Housing Society – provides low-cost rented housing with local authorities.
- Spelthorne Housing Association – provides and manages a range of affordable housing in the Spelthorne area.
- A2 Development Services – this is a commercial company that manages our development programme.
- A2 Enterprises – provides private accommodation including rental and sales on the open market.
- A2 Housing Finance – raise loans and manage funds across our Group.