THOUSANDS of people in West Yorkshire are to benefit from £12m of property improvements after a merger between two housing associations.

The cash injection, to be spent over the next three years, was announced by Brunel Housing Association and the Yorkshire Housing Group.

Brunel Housing Association has 2,500 homes in Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford, as well as providing specialist care and support services.

Yorkshire Housing Group is the largest social housing provider dedicated to Yorkshire, providing homes for more than 35,000 people in 14,500 properties.

Bill Payne, chief executive of Yorkshire Housing Group, said: "This merger is excellent news for Brunel tenants, many of whom will see major improvements in the quality of their lives through modernisation and refurbishment of their homes."

Richard Veale, chief executive of Brunel Housing Association, said: "Brunel has chosen Yorkshire Housing Group as its preferred partner because of the opportunities it offers tenants for improving the quality of their homes and the management service we can deliver together.

"We are delighted the merger will enable us to work with Yorkshire Housing Group."

Yorkshire Housing Group provides social housing services and includes the Yorkshire Metropolitan Housing.