THE new boss of Sentinel Housing Association has started work this week.

Mark Perry has joined the Basingstoke-based organisation from Affinity Sutton, a national housing group of 57,000 homes with a £280 turnover, where he was Group Commercial Director. He replaces chief executive Martin Nurse, who has retired after 11 years at the helm of Sentinel.

Mr Perry said he was excited to be joining Sentinel, which has its headquarters at the top of Kingsclere Road in Houndmills. He said: “Martin Nurse has achieve a great deal during his time as chief executive and I hope to build on his many accomplishments and lead the organisation forward to even greater success in the future.”

The new boss said one of his first tasks will be to oversee the development of 313 affordable homes at the Merton Rise site near Popley in Basingstoke. The project is part of a 784-home housing estate being built in partnership with Charles Church and Persimmon Homes.

Sentinel has also acquired the former Eli Lilly and Victoria plots on Kingsclere Road, where it wants to build about 500 homes. It currently manages 8,400 homes in north Hampshire and is engaged in the redevelopment of Taverner and Freemantle Closes in Oakridge.