The association says the blueprint paves the way for it to get closer to tenants communities and partners. It adds that it will mean more staff working with tenants and homeowners.

The plans for a new-look GHA, the result of an independent review carried out last year by the Financial Information Company, follow consultations with tenants and stakeholders.

The changes will see more control over housing services and budgets devolved to five area committees. These will be led by tenants and be aligned to the city’s Strategic Planning areas.

GHA Board Chair Sandra Forsythe said: “We are delighted to have the support of the Government and city council.

“The next important step is for tenants to be involved in the detail of how these plans should be implemented.”

GHA will undertake an organisational review to ensure staffing matches the new structure.

The key aim will be to strengthen frontline services, while de-centralising several head-office functions.

GHA Chief Executive Martin Armstrong said: “We look forward to working with tenants and stakeholders to create a new GHA that is closer to communities, closer to customers and closer to partners.

“We will have more staff on the frontline, dealing directly with tenants and factored homeowners.

“Although GHA will be a smaller and more locally-focused organisation, it will still have the size and scale to continue the regeneration programme across the city.”

The blueprint for GHA’s future includes a renewed focus to transfer a significant number of homes to community-based housing associations, a process known as Second Stage Transfer.

The current programme involves more than 16,000 homes. GHA has already transferred around 2000 homes.