Antonine was moved into high engagement status with the Scottish Housing Regulator in August 2016 after an independent investigation uncovered serious weaknesses in its governance.

After a period of intensive work to address its regulatory failings, it embarked on the search for a partner organisation in April of this year with a clear view to improving governance, enhancing services, increasing investment in the area, ensuring affordable rents, financial strength and value for money. Following a rigorous selection process over the summer months, Antonine’s Management Committee decided to select Caledonia as its preferred partner to develop a detailed business case to advance the plans.

Mags Lightbody, Antonine’s interim director, said: “Our two organisations share similar values and have a strong commitment to improving the lives of our customers through the homes and services that we provide.

“The possibility of forming a partnership with Caledonia could create exciting opportunities to significantly improve the quality of the homes that we provide, keeping rent affordable and at the same time broadening and improving the range of services available to our customers. We are committed to putting our customers at the heart of major decisions like this and we will continue to consult closely with them as we continue discussions with Caledonia over the coming months.”

Should the plans progress, Antonine will join Caledonia’s growing list of partnerships after Bellsmyre Housing Association was formally welcomed into the group on 1 April last year and Cordale Housing Association joined in April 2014.

Julie Cosgrove, Caledonia’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as Antonine’s preferred partner. We are in the very early stages of our talks with Antonine and these have involved exploring the benefits for both organisations of forming a partnership and also how we could actively progress the partnership arrangements over the coming months.

“Caledonia has a great range of services and expertise which it can bring to a partnership with Antonine and its customers. By bringing together the operations and landlord services of both organisations our aim would be to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position to respond to the needs, expectations and aspirations that our customers have.”