How we came together

Established in April 2018, Onward (formerly known as Symphony Housing Group) brought together several housing associations, namely Liverpool Housing Trust, Hyndburn Homes, Peak Valley Housing Association and Ribble Valley Homes.

Bringing these organisations together allowed us to invest more in our homes and neighbourhoods, improve our services, and make a greater contribution to the sustainable regeneration of communities in the North West.

In 2021, we completed the amalgamation of Contour Homes into Onward Homes and finalised our transition to become one group.

To find out more about how we got to where we are today, take a look at our timeline.

  • 1965 to 2000

    Our story begins with Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT), which was set up in 1965 to provide good-quality homes for families living in some of the UK’s poorest housing conditions.

    Portico Housing Association is later formed in 1982, laying the foundations for future growth and partnership working.

  • 2000 to 2010

    In 2003, LHT establishes a new group structure under the parent organisation of Vicinity Housing Group. This is closely followed by the creation of Contour Housing Group in 2004, through the merger of Collingwood and Portico Housing Associations.

    Later in 2006, Peak Valley Housing Association and Hyndburn Homes join Contour Housing Group following local authority housing transfers. And in 2008, Ribble Valley Homes is also established within Vicinity Housing Group, further expanding the group’s reach.

  • 2010 to 2020

    In 2011, our path to become Onward Homes begins with Vicinity Housing Group and Contour Housing Group bringing together six housing subsidiaries (LHT, Contour Homes, Ribble Valley Homes, Peak Valley Housing Association, Hyndburn Homes and Cobalt Housing) under one group structure, Symphony Housing Group.

    Seven years later in 2018, Symphony simplifies its structure and brings most subsidiaries together as Onward. Then in 2021, Contour Homes is amalgamated and our journey to become Onward Homes is complete.

Two smiling Onward Homes staff members chatting together on a residential street.

Where we are now

We’re now one of the largest registered providers of social housing based solely in the North West of England, with 35,000 homes across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire.

We are a not-for-profit organisation regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing and have a C1/G1/V2 grading.

Our purpose

We are guided by our values of excellence, creativity and respect which underpin everything that we do to make The Onward Difference.

Our purpose is to enable customers to be their best by providing homes that people love in places they are proud of. We do this by providing good quality homes and practical support for the customers and communities in our care.

Here, you'll find an overview of what this includes.

  • Building, managing and maintaining homes for people who are unable to access housing on the open market.

  • Delivering homes and services that make a real difference to the people living in our neighbourhoods.

  • Offering customers support and assistance, helping them to overcome the challenges.

  • Providing specialist housing including sheltered and housing with care, enabling our customers to live independent lives in the community.

  • Working with partners, voluntary groups and Government agencies to provide more homes and support our customers across the North West.

Our corporate plan

Launched in 2022, our corporate plan, ‘The Onward Difference’, sets our vision to 2030.

View our Corporate Plan for 2022-2030 View our Corporate Plan for 2018-2023
An Onward Homes worker in a branded navy jacket stands beside a smiling resident at her front door.

Our customer voice and influence strategy

A new approach shaped by our customers and colleagues on how we’ll listen, learn and act on your views.

View our Customer Voice and Influence Strategy Share your views
A housing officer with a tablet talks with a smiling resident sitting on a sofa

Looking for further information?

Now you know more about who we are and what we do, you may want to know more about our work and the people that make us tick.