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A Gloucestershire housing association has announced its chief executive has decided to step down after 20 years in the role.

Two Rivers Housing, which provides more than 4,400 homes across seven local authority areas in the county, said Garry King will leave the group at the start of next year, with the search for his replacement underway.

The Newent-based organisation, previously known as Forest of Dean Housing, said it had grown “significantly” under the leadership of Mr King, who has worked in the social housing sector for the last 36 years.

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Over the last 20 years, Two Rivers said it had invested almost £100m in improving its properties, and in 2020 secured its largest ever private investment of £130m to help support its portfolio.

Chair of the board Yvonne Leishman said: “Garry has been at the heart of our organisation from the very beginning, and we are incredibly grateful for everything he has done and achieved during this time. His leadership over the last 20 years, has seen the group go from strength to strength and he has built an organisation that has remained focussed on delivering for its tenants and improving the availability of affordable housing in our communities.

“He is leaving us in a great position to continue the work he started in 2003 and, as we enter a new chapter in the history of our organisation, we are well placed to continue to ensure that families across Gloucestershire and the surrounding area have warm, safe, affordable homes.”

Two Rivers pledged to build 1,000 new affordable homes in Gloucestershire between 2018 and 2028, with the company saying that as of last March it had delivered 410.