<p>Willmott Dixon (WD) has exited the housing market, selling off its social and private sector affordable homes businesses, Willmott Dixon Housing and Widacre Homes, to Inspace – its former support services arm.</p> <p>The £64.5 million deal is aimed at boosting Inspace’s competitiveness in the social housing sector. Inspace traditionally carried our repair and maintenance work for commercial properties and housing; it now has the expanded capacity to take on large scale regeneration projects.</p> <p>WD will now focus purely on construction, while retaining its major shareholding in AiM-listed Inspace, which de-merged from the company in January 2005. WD chief executive Rick Willmott said: “Having reflected on changing market patterns, we concluded that it is in the interests of our customers, shareholders and staff to bring the social and affordable housing operations of Willmott Dixon and Inspace together within one business.</p> <p>“We have recognised that future government funding is likely to favour more comprehensive regeneration initiatives, capable of delivering mixed tenure communities, rather than simplistic kitchen and bathroom replacement programmes.”</p> <p>Willmott added: “The close cultural alignment between Willmott Dixon and Inspace and the benefits an AiM listing can bring in raising capital to fuel growth led us to believe that Inspace provides …