Proposals for CHP and Estuary Housing Association to merge to form a new housing association

In March 2025, we announced plans to explore a merger with Southend-based Estuary Housing Association Limited (Estuary). The proposal is that Estuary will undertake a transfer of engagements to CHP, and both organisations would combine to form a single organisation with a new name. Like us, Estuary is a Registered Provider of Social Housing (RP), registered with the Regulator of Social Housing and has charitable status. 

If the merger goes ahead, you’d still have the same rights to live in your home, and the conditions of your tenancy agreement or lease wouldn't change because of the merger. You would also have the same level of legal rights and protection that you have now.

While we’re strong independently, we believe that together we could create something new, built on the best of both organisations. We’re both committed to tackling the housing crisis locally, and joining together will also help us better address housing needs. We’d be able to build more new homes, increase investment in our existing homes, and provide better services to our customers.

CHP currently owns and manages more than 12,500 homes, with the largest number in and around Chelmsford. Estuary Housing Association has over 4,500 homes, with the largest number in Southend-on-Sea. This means that a merged organisation would own and manage more than 17,000 homes and would be the largest housing association focused on, and headquartered in, Essex. 

We want to hear from you

We really want to hear your views, so we’ve created a short survey that can be completed online. We’ve also sent a copy in the post to customers we know can’t access the internet. If you’d prefer a paper version to complete, please contact us on 0300 555 0500.  

Before you complete the survey, which was included in the email we sent to customers, we ask you to read the information on this page, including our FAQs, so you know our plans. You may also want to join us at one of our in-person or online events, where you’ll hear directly from us on the plans and be able to ask us questions.

Please watch our short video, in which Paul Edwards, CHP’s Chief Executive, explains more about our proposals and why your views are so important to us. 

Ways to get involved

Complete our short, online survey, which was emailed to you. If you’re a CHP customer and haven’t received an email, can’t find it, or are unable to access the link for any reason, please email consultation@chp.org.uk.

Join us at one of our online meetings:

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Date Time
Thursday, 18 September 13:00 – 14:00
Wednesday, 1 October 18:30 – 19:30

There’s no need to book a place, we’ll email a link a week before the session, so you can join if you’d like to. The sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams, so you’ll need to have this installed on the device you want to use in order to join us. 

We’ll record these sessions and post them on our website for other customers to watch, and by joining, you’ll be giving permission for this recording to take place.

Online session - 18 September 2025

Come and see us in person at one of our events:

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Date Time Location
Friday, 19 September 09:30 – 10:30 Tarrett Drive, Colchester, CO1 2NJ
Friday, 19 September 12:00 – 14:00 Colchester High Street – next to the British Heart Foundation
Wednesday, 24 September 09:30 – 11:00 Parkside Community Hub, Melbourne Avenue, CM1 2DX
Thursday, 2 October 10:00 – 11:30 Baynard Avenue, Flitch Green, Dunmow, CM6 3FF 
Thursday, 2 October 12:00 – 13:00 Hibbert Drive, Great Dunmow, CM6 4AG
Thursday, 2 October 13:30 – 14:30 Old Challis Rise, Rayne, Braintree, CM77 6AD
Monday, 6 October 10:30 – 12:00 Meadgate Orchards Cafe, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, CM2 7NS
Monday, 13 October 10:00 – 11:30 Andrewes Way, Rayleigh, SS6 9UQ

For our in-person events, you don’t need to book, and you can drop in at any time during the session. 

More information about this consultation

We want every CHP customer to have the opportunity to give their views, should they wish to do so. The customer consultation will last seven weeks, opening on Monday, 8 September 2025 and closing on Friday, 24 October. We need to have received all comments by the end of the consultation for them to be considered.

We’ve worked with Estuary to create this consultation, and they're consulting with their customers at the same time.

CHP and Estuary merger FAQs

Next steps

We’ll look at all the feedback we receive during the consultation, and CHP’s Board will use the results of what you told us to help them make the final decision as to whether to merge or not. We'll update you as soon as possible once a decision has been made.  

If you have any questions or need support in completing this survey, please contact us on 0300 555 0500 or email consultation@chp.org.uk.