FIVE business professionals have been chosen from more than 20 volunteers to help plan Worcester's housing service of the future.

The high calibre of the applicants surprised Worcester City Council bosses after they advertised for people to sit on the shadow management board of a potential new registered social landlord (RSL).

To be known as Worcester Community Housing, it will only come into effect if city council house tenants vote to transfer their homes to a new local, not-for-profit RSL in a secret ballot next year.

Applicants for the management board came from backgrounds in accounting, law, personnel, housing and construction.

Before being recruited, they were subject to rigorous interview scrutiny by a panel of local tenants and city councillors.

Those chosen were businessman Nick Baldwin, barrister Claire Howell, housing director John McNaulty, accountant Richard Spalding and the chief executive of the Festival Housing Association, Chris Almgill.

"We were absolutely amazed by the number and quality of people who applied to join the shadow management board," said the city council's head of housing services, Sue Jackson.

"Everyone who applied was keen to put their extensive business skills to good use for the benefit of Worcester tenants.

"Those selected really are top calibre.

"All those involved in the recruitment are confident the new members will do an exceptional job developing and managing local housing services for the future."

The shadow board is made up of 15 people, including five tenants, five city councillors and five newly-recruited business professionals, who will take their place at the helm of the new company if city tenants agree to the transfer of their homes.

The board has already agreed on the name, Worcester Community Housing, and will now develop a business plan, policies and a major improvement programme for more than 5,000 Worcester homes.

Board members will be paid reasonable expenses and will be vetted by the Housing Corporation.