A CUMBRIA-based social landlord has started partnership talks to improve "long-term prospects" for its homes, tenants and staff.

Impact Housing Association owns 2,770 homes throughout Cumbria and in north Lancashire. Its head office is in Workington, and it offers a cafe and young people's services at the South Lakeland Foyer on Stricklandgate, Kendal.

Impact says it is talking to The Riverside Group, one of the UK's leading social housing and regeneration organisations, which owns or manages around 55,000 homes, including 6,500 in Cumbria.

The plan is for Impact to join Riverside later this year, to help deliver improvements to its tenants.

Mark Costello, Impact’s chair, said: "We have made substantial progress in the last six months, restructuring our organisation and making £1.3m savings. This helped generate interest from several housing associations, giving us real choice.

"They [Riverside] clearly understand the challenges that have led to us seeking a partner association, and our board believes they have the local knowledge and national strength that will support us in securing a sustainable future for our homes and services."