Brothers and Sisters offer UK’s best award-winning Retirement Developments
With Knight Frank reporting that retired people now form the UK’s fastest growing demographic group (Retirement Housing Report 2010), demand for dedicated Retirement Developments has never been higher. But with more and more retirement properties coming to the market, how do you make the right choice for your ‘third age’?
Well it would seem that Brothers, Spencer and Clinton McCarthy of Churchill Retirement Living and the Sisters of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus, nuns turned property developers, Augustinian Living, have the answers.
Sons of John McCarthy, the original retirement homes king and founder of McCarthy & Stone, Spencer and Clinton McCarthy, owners of Churchill Retirement Living have been awarded gold in the highly competitive Best Retirement Development category for Hamlet Lodge, Gloucester in the prestigious 30th What House? Awards 2011.
A superb development comprising 48 one and two bedroom apartments, Hamlet Lodge is highly affordable, a key concern for those entering retirement, with prices starting from £145,000. Located close to Gloucester city centre and crucially a flat walk to shopping facilities and other amenities, the judges commented that there “was nothing institutionalised about this neat, stylish development, rather independent living with your own front door, but with the reassurance of a lodge manager and a 24-hour Careline.”
Praised also for the landscaped gardens and sense of community, Hamlet Lodge’s apartment specifications also “showed awareness of mobility issues among the elderly and Churchill is very proactive with its research, continually looking to evolve its product based on changing needs and customer profiles”.
Doing it for the girls, the Sisters of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus, a religious order of nuns turned property developers under the name of Augustinian Living back in 2005 to fund a new retreat at St George’s Park in East Sussex, have won yet another What House? Award – silver in the Best Retirement Development category.
Some may say a divine choice, St George’s Park, a retirement development with care village and nursing home, features 235 apartments for the over 60s situated over 250 acres of prime Sussex countryside near Haywards Heath. More than 200 people live at St George´s Park and current availability starts from £345,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
The estate includes farmland, woodland and a lake, as well as the convent with the judges praising “both the environmental and entrepreneurial spirit running through the village, with its wildlife habitats, keen gardeners tending allotments and a working farm.”
There are plenty of village facilities and activities for residents within the versatile community centre with its bar and restaurant. Outside there is a bowling green and a croquet lawn, as well as fishing on the lake and a gym, swimming pool and tennis court planned.
In a highly competitive sector, the judges noted that St George’s Park “is a really sensitive, beautifully conceived and executed retirement and nursing village scheme – sensitive to its range of residents as well as its heritage and environment. Nothing jars in this community, which has a buzz about it, but with a contemplative feel too, as befits its creators”.
To find out more about the Best Retirement Developments, as well a full list of What House? Award winners visit http://www.whathouse.co.uk/what-house-awards/results-2011 or download the new What House? App for iPhone and shortly iPad.
To register for details of the 2012 What House? Awards please contact Derek Smith. ds@globespanmedia.com. Tel: 020-7324-2800.
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Notes to Editors:
Rupert Bates, editorial director of whathouse.co.uk would like to thank the following What House? Awards 2011 sponsors:
Whathouse.co.uk
Roca
Spicerhaart land & new homes
Nolte Kitchens
Hometrack
Show House magazine
Electrolux
Premier Guarantee
Johnson Tiles
Laufen
ScottishPower
KLAS International