One of Oxfordshire's leading housing providers has joined forces with a regional group to form a new alliance that promises to build more affordable homes.

The Vale Housing Association, based in Abingdon, has linked up with the Sovereign Housing Association, in Newbury, and the Dorset-based Twynham Housing Association to become part of the Sovereign Housing Group.

The Vale Association says the move will allow it to use the support of a much bigger grouping to build more new homes while the Vale itself can concentrate on providing services to its tenants.

The Vale association owns more than 5,000 properties, mostly in the Vale of White Horse district. As part of the agreement the Vale will take over almost 1,000 properties in Oxfordshire owned by Sovereign.

The Sovereign Housing Association has more than 16,000 properties in the south-east and south-west regions. Current Vale association tenants will continue to receive the same services and deal with the same staff who are based in the Vineyard, in Abingdon.

The association will continue to set rents and make decisions together with its tenants about how homes are managed.

Steve Russell, who has been with the Vale association since 1995, takes over as managing director, while Richard Farrell becomes the new chairman of the management board. Chief exec Mike Roberts has retired.