THE new man in charge of a charitable housing society has pledged to help provide more affordable homes for families in Suffolk.

Ian Winslet will take over the reins as the new chief executive of Suffolk Housing Society (SHS) in the new year and is looking to increase its profile across the county.

Mr Winslet will move into the hot seat at SHS in January when Steve Clarke steps down after 29 years at the helm.

Suffolk Housing Society was formed in 1974 and is a charitable, industrial and provident society that provides and manages more than 2,000 homes for people in housing need at affordable rents.

It operates within a 40-mile radius of its headquarters in Bury St Edmunds and has schemes in Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

Currently chief executive of Croydon Churches Housing Association, Mr Winslet brings with him a wealth of experience in the public sector and housing industry and said he was relishing the opportunity of swapping London for rural Suffolk.

“I am really looking forward to starting at the society,” he said.

“It is a fantastic organisation which is clearly extremely well run and provides a very valuable service to its tenants.

“The society’s board is extremely ambitious, and aspires to see continued growth across the organisation, so I will be looking at potential opportunities when I arrive in Suffolk.”

Mr Clarke was just one of three staff when he joined the society back in January 1982.

Since then, he has led the organisation as its housing stock has grown from 220 to 2,000 flats, houses and sheltered homes. Mr Clarke added: “I have relished the challenge of helping the society to grow over the years, and am proud that SHS has become such a successful organisation which enjoys a good reputation among its tenants and in the communities we serve.”