TORUS' tenants and leaseholders are being asked for their views over proposals to 'amalgamate' the group with Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH).

A six-week consultation to give customers the opportunity 'to help shape plans' for a larger north west housing group has launched.

Consultation packs have been sent to almost 38,000 homes owned by Torus and LMH across the Liverpool City Region and Cheshire.

The packs explain how a new group would work to achieve 'greater impacts and influence' across the three heartland areas of St Helens, Warrington and Liverpool, while 'maintaining a strong focus on tenants, customers and communities'.

A joint statement from Torus Group chief executive Rob Young and LMH chief executive Steve Coffey said: "Consulting our tenants and leaseholders is an essential part of the amalgamation process and will help shape our future direction.

"We believe Torus and LMH are a great fit and that amalgamation offers exciting opportunities to do more and do it well.

"Together, we aim to create an exciting new organisation that will have even greater positive impacts on the communities we serve and build a significant additional number of affordable homes.

"Customer views are really important at this stage and we would encourage all tenants and leaseholders to read the information provided and let us know what they think before the consultation ends on July 31."

The outcomes of the tenant and leaseholder consultation, as well as other 'consent processes', will be considered by the boards of Torus and LMH in the autumn.

The amalgamation could happen later this year.

Torus is a group partnership between housing associations Helena Partnerships and Golden Gates Housing Trust.