Two of social housing's biggest firms are to merge in a bid to become a market leader in community regeneration, reports CNplus.co.uk.

Keepmoat and Apollo Group, which have "repairs and maintenance contracts for 60,000 plus homes", are in talks to become one organisation - which may interest those in supported housing jobs.

Both firms will now fall under the 'Keepmoat family of companies', but will retain their individual identities.

David Blunt, chief executive of Keepmoat, explains the reasons for the merger on Inside Housing: "Dave [Sheridan, chief executive of Apollo] and I have known each other for many years and it [the merger idea] originated in Harrogate this year when we were having a chat thinking about the new world, thinking about Cavendish and we got thinking about being a market leader in the UK.

"It is a compelling proposition whether you are a customer or a stakeholder and that's why we are considering it," he adds

The merger, if successful, could provide housing associations with a "greater level" of security, service and a range of expertise.

Both firms, who have been involved in merger rumours since 2007, will have to visit the Office of Fair Trading before the deal can be competed, due to market share issues. Mr Blunt continues: "Once that is done, we will work up a business plan and the timeline is the fourth quarter this year as the earliest we could complete."