News

McCarthy & Stone triumphed again in this year’s British Housebuilder Awards – clocking up an unbroken run of gold and silver medals for the last nine years.

The company, the largest provider of private retirement apartments, took the silver medal in the supreme category of Best National Builder, beating dozens of others in the mainstream housing sector.

The British Housebuilder Awards, presented by TV personality Vanessa Feltz at London’s Savoy Hotel, are highly valued in the industry because the votes come from home-buyers themselves rather than a panel of judges.

The news will be welcomed by thousands of older people who have invested in a McCarthy & Stone retirement apartment.

It means the 30-year-old company has notched up gold and silver prizes in the Housebuilder Awards scheme for each of the last nine years. Twice in that time it has been given the ultimate accolade of Britain’s Best Housebuilder.

McCarthy & Stone, the only builder to gain maximum rating in a recent Government-led customer satisfaction survey of British housebuilders, this month announced the first phase of a major expansion programme that will see its output of new homes double in the next five years.

It will diversify into new areas including ‘total care’ developments offering a range of tailored support services and nursing care.

It is also planning a new kind of purpose-built property for disabled homeowners of any age, who currently have little choice if they need to move from their present home.

The company’s Assisted Living division, launched some seven years ago to advance a modern housing solution for older homeowners needing a high level of support but without formal nursing care, is also targeted as a key area for growth.

Chief Executive Howard Phillips said: "The aim of all our developments is to allow every resident to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.

"With around two-thirds of the retired generation now property owners, we believe our range of products will become the 21st century’s answer to a new social phenomenon – the equity-rich pensioner who wants a real home of their own in supportive surroundings."

He said the company would remain "passionate" about customer care as many new residents are moving at a difficult time of life, perhaps after the loss of a spouse or while recovering from an illness.

McCarthy & Stone’s standard apartments are designed for homeowners over 60 seeking a manageable and secure property in their retirement without losing their independence.

Each is completely self-contained in a development where facilities typically include an elegant central lounge, laundry room, lift, and a guest suite where family and friends can stay overnight.

Security has been given high priority in this age of rising crime – every resident has access to a 24-hour personal emergency service and TV surveillance system. A House Manager, usually living on the premises, looks after the day-to-day running of the development.

Independent surveys have shown that over 90% of residents enjoy the McCarthy & Stone lifestyle so much they would recommend it to others in similar circumstances.