Planning and designing a retirement home
A huge amount of care goes into every McCarthy Stone development. Every potential retirement development is assessed on nearby facilities, accessibility and desirability for homeowners by our team of experts. This includes Conor Garvey, Senior Land Buyer at McCarthy Stone, who carefully selects locations for retirement homes that support convenient living. Once the site has been selected, the team responsible for building the retirement home swing into action with a detailed process that ensures our properties look as good on the inside as they do on the outside. We interviewed Conor, Phil Hamlin, Senior Site Manager and Kim Caldwell, Regional Sales and Marketing Director, to understand how the process of building a retirement home works.
Choosing a site for a new retirement development
Conor and the team successfully secured a site in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, to house a selection of Retirement Living and Retirement Living PLUS properties. We spoke with Conor about buying land and the inspiration behind Watson Place, a development in Chipping Norton.
How do you choose a site?
“It’s all about the location. It has to be in a desirable area that potential homeowners dream of living in. We look at towns mainly, with good local facilities and within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, banks and doctors. Our sales database also shows us areas customers are interested in and we look at sites in those areas.”
- Conor Garvey, Senior Land Buyer at McCarthy Stone
What made you choose a site in Chipping Norton?
“A percentage of the sites we look at are in aspirational areas. We already have a few Cotswolds developments, in Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Cirencester, Stroud and Tetbury; so Chipping Norton was the obvious next step. We found a site that was previously owned by Parker Knoll Furniture. It’s a perfect location with great local facilities – just a half-mile walk to town. Plus, there are good transport links too.”
- Conor Garvey, Senior Land Buyer at McCarthy Stone
What about your homeowners’ specific requirements?
“Making sure that the location will fit our homeowners’ needs is a game-changer when it comes to which sites we pick. Accessibility is really important. Making sure that pedestrian walkways are wide enough for motorised buggies or wheelchairs is a high priority, and the Chipping Norton site fits the bill with wide, flat pavements.”
- Conor Garvey, Senior Land Buyer at McCarthy Stone
Do you consider the local area when making your decision?
Yes. We work closely with local councils to ensure we meet planning requirements and have public consultation meetings. At Chipping Norton, we have had pre-planning meetings with the district council and local town council. We have to ensure we fit in with the area’s policies and balance the build with carefully chosen materials to match the local vernacular. Some of the details – the colour of the stone, the roof tiles, the slates and the windows – will reflect the local style. Our architects will look at matching the pitch of the roofs and window elevations to typical Cotswold buildings, for example.”
- Conor Garvey, Senior Land Buyer at McCarthy Stone
Building a retirement home
Once the site has been selected, the building team is on hand to turn the vision into a reality. Phil Hamlin, Senior Site Manager at McCarthy Stone, talks us through the process of building a retirement home in Cheshire.
Oak Grange is in a beautiful setting. How has it been to build on?
“It was previously The Royal British Legion social club. It’s in Hartford village, surrounded by residential housing, with mature trees on two sides and a tennis and bowling club on the other. Luckily, we’ve had good weather so far. We try to limit disruption to the local community as much as possible so, for example, timing deliveries not to clash with drop-off times at the school opposite.”
- Phil Hamlin, Senior Site Manager at McCarthy Stone
Is there a set pattern to a McCarthy Stone new development?
“Not really – every build is different. We use traditional methods with brickwork and concrete blockwork, but we also incorporate other materials, such as rendering and panelling. At Oak Grange, our main material is a smoked red-facing brick with composite panelling on the top of the second floor.”
- Phil Hamlin, Senior Site Manager at McCarthy Stone
Can you describe the garden design?
“The development will be landscaped towards the end of the programme. The design takes into account the existing trees—majestic horse chestnuts and silver birch.”
- Phil Hamlin, Senior Site Manager at McCarthy Stone
Bringing the retirement home design to life
Once the retirement home has been built, our interior design teams take over to add the fixtures and fittings, furnishes and flourishes to make our retirement developments into a home.
An example of this comes from Bowes Lyon Court, a premier Retirement Living PLUS development featuring 62 retirement apartments. Situated in Poundbury, Prince Charles’ visionary urban expansion of Dorchester, Dorset, the development has even witnessed a visit from The Queen, who unveiled a statue of the Queen Mother.
Regional Sales and Marketing Director, Kim Caldwell, talks us through this stage of the project.
What influenced the retirement home design at Bowes Lyon Court?
“We used neutral tones and soft pastels to reflect the Dorset countryside. The sprigged wallpaper in the homeowners’ lounge and dining areas is set off by lilac and turquoise in the upholstery and the Shaker-inspired coffee tables.”
- Kim Caldwell, Regional Sales and Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone
How do you make the shared areas feel welcoming?
“The communal areas are central to the development. The atrium is a great meeting point for homeowners to gather before lunch. This space features USB ports, charging points and Wi-Fi. They can also relax on the outdoor terrace. It’s the little touches that make a difference, from the stylish lanterns in the club lounge to the cosy library. There is also the snooker room and a wellbeing suite where you can relax with a treatment.”
- Kim Caldwell, Regional Sales and Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone
What special features can homeowners look out for?
“Everything is designed for ease, comfort and safety. You’ll find plug sockets at waist height, lifts to all floors and wide corridors, which are easy to move around. The apartments have mid-height Neff ovens, lever mixer taps, video door entry, a 24-hour call system, smoke and intruder alarms, and illuminated light switches to the bathroom and main bedroom.”
- Kim Caldwell, Regional Sales and Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone
As this is an extension of Prince Charles’ Poundbury development, did visual elements have to fit in?
“Yes, the façade was produced by Ben Pentreath, who works with the Duchy of Cornwall on most buildings in Poundbury. The Duchy approved our technical drawings before we began work, and our heating system is supplied by its biogas source.”
- Kim Caldwell, Regional Sales and Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone
Find your perfect retirement home with McCarthy Stone
Let McCarthy Stone guide you through the retirement home buying process. Our friendly team is here to help you every step of the way so you can find a home that meets your needs and lifestyle.
To discuss your options or find out more about our Retirement Living and Retirement Living PLUS properties, contact us online or by telephone on 0800 201 4811. Together, we can find you the perfect retirement property to call home.
