Exclusive to the over 60s, this retirement development will consist of 45 one or two-bedroom apartments conveniently located close to the banks of the river Stour in historic Blandford Forum, Dorset, on the site of the old brewery.
Low maintenance and sociable
With our light and spacious one or two-bedroom retirement apartment, you’ll enjoy intelligent design, high specifications and quality modern flourishes, like underfloor heating. Many properties will benefit from balconies too. This retirement community will also offer a luxurious communal lounge where you can meet with friends and neighbours, a beautiful shared garden to relax and socialise in and a hotel-style guest suite for when people come to stay.
Safe and secure
All our new retirement properties have integrated security systems, including a 24-hour emergency call out system, fire detection and camera entry system. There will also be a friendly House Manager onsite in office hours for added peace of mind.
Plenty to do on the doorstep
Just across the River Stour, you’ll find the lively heart of Blandford Forum, with its mix of restaurants, pubs, independent shops and high street brands – including an M&S food hall and the popular Blandford Forum Indoor Market – a haven for collectibles and bric-a-brac with a charming café. With the river close by, there are plenty of opportunities for a scenic stroll into the glorious Dorset countryside. Try the Stour Valley Way which begins at Blandford Bridge and meanders through the Crown Meadows and Deer Park.
Development Highlights
- Retirement Living, exclusive to the over 60s
- Subject to planning
- Near to amenities including a Tesco Superstore
- Beautiful landscaped gardens
- Safe and secure with a 24/7 emergency call system and camera door entry
- Easy access to Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset countryside
Key Features
- Balconies
- 24/7 call system
- Camera entry system
- Communal lounge
- Landscaped gardens
- Pets allowed
Occupancy options
- Communal area costs inc. electricity, heating and lighting
- Future maintenance fund
- Water and sewage (communal areas and apartments)
- Ground rent
- Maintenance of building and gardens
- Emergency call system
- Building insurance
- Active social calendar of events and exclusive discounts
- Dedicated on-site team
What's not included?
- Electricity, heating and lighting (apartments)
- Phone / broadband
- Council Tax
- TV licence / TV service
- Home and contents insurance
What is an Assured Tenancy?
Assured Tenancy means that you agree to rent the property for a minimum term of 12 months, but after that you can leave at any time as long as you give two months written notice. We can’t ask you to leave unless you have broken the terms of the agreement.
I want to rent. What checks do you carry out and what do I need to prepare?
We’ll ask you to complete a Rental Application Pack and an Income and Expenditure form to get the information we need to do standard background checks. You’ll be asked for proof of income, savings and/or pensions, along with copies of your last three months’ bank statements. You’ll be asked to provide identification documentation that complies with the latest Government Right to Rent regulations – our sales consultants will talk you through what you need.
Do I need to pay a reservation deposit?
Yes, you will need to pay a small refundable reservation deposit to reserve the property. You will also have to pay a security deposit equivalent to five weeks rent when you move in.
What do I have to pay before moving in?
Before you can move into your property, you will need to pay the first month’s rent together with your security deposit, minus the reservation deposit you’ve already paid.
The security deposit is equivalent to five weeks rent. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you know the exact amount you need to pay in plenty of time.
McCarthy Stone is part of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, membership number G10625. Download the Tenancy Deposit Scheme leaflet.
What date are rental payments due?
All rental payments are due on the 1st of each month and must be paid by direct debit. Your rent includes all of the development’s service charges, ground rents and property maintenance.
It’s an affordable approach to owning a stunning new retirement home:
- You may be able to access cash tied up in your existing property (known as ‘equity release’)
- You can choose to buy a bigger percentage of the property in the future – this reduces the rent you pay
- If you want, we can buy your existing property as a part exchange
- You’ll be eligible for our free Smooth Move removal service, plus a contribution to legal and estate agent fees
The rent is set at the point of purchase. Annual rent review on the date specified in your lease will be indexed to movements in the Retail Price Index (RPI) subject to a minimum 0.5%. RPI has been in the range c.1-4% since 2013 and was 3.3% in March 2018. 3.3% is equivalent to an extra £1.98 per week for typical rent of £60 per week.
What is Part buy, part rent?
A flexible, affordable alternative to outright purchase, with all the benefits of ownership. For more information call: 0800 201 4811
How it works
You purchase a minimum 50% share in a brand new McCarthy Stone retirement property and pay rent on the part you don’t own.
Benefits include:
It’s an affordable approach to owning a stunning new retirement home
- You may be able to access cash tied up in your existing property (known as ‘equity release’)
- You can choose to buy a bigger percentage of the property in the future – this reduces the rent you pay
- If you want, we can buy your existing property as a part exchange
- You’ll be eligible for our free Smooth Move removal service, plus a contribution to legal and estate agent fees
Is private shared ownership available at all McCarthy Stone developments?
No. This offer is available at selected McCarthy Stone developments, so make sure you check with the sales team on site.
What % of the property do I have to purchase?
70% is the standard option – there are options to increase this over time, known as staircasing.
What is staircasing and how does it work?
What further costs and fees are involved You can purchase further 10% increments, based on valuation at that point. You can staircase to 100% at which point the property would be wholly owned. You would stop paying rent, but service charges and ground rent continue to be payable to McCarthy Stone.
Each time you staircase you need to plan for additional costs such as valuation fee, legal expenses, SDLT*/LTT** if applicable.
*Stamp Duty Land Tax **Land Transaction Tax (LTT) has replaced SDLT in Wales from April 2018
Do I pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) or Land Transaction Tax (LTT) on a private shared ownership property?
You will need to pay SDLT*/LTT** on a private shared ownership property, but you may have less to pay than if you had purchased outright. You should seek advice from your solicitor to confirm how much SDLT you have to pay.
*Stamp Duty Land Tax **Land Transaction Tax (LTT) has replaced SDLT in Wales from April 2018
How much rent will I have to pay and how will that change over time with rent reviews?
The rent is set at the point of purchase. Annual rent review on the date specified in your lease will be indexed to movements in the Retail Price Index (RPI) subject to a minimum 0.5%. RPI has been in the range c.1-4% since 2013, and was 3.3% in March 2018. 3.3% is equivalent to an extra £1.98 per week for typical rent of £60 per week.

Send me a brochure
Tell us how you would like to receive your brochure: by Email, Post or PDF download.
Retirement living in Blandford Forum
The retirement development is situated in Blandford St Mary on the south bank of the River Stour, immediately opposite the centre of Blandford Forum. The village was built around the Badger Brewery and you could do worse than enjoy a craft beer – or coffee and cake - at the beautifully restored Brewery Tap, Blandford. Or for an usual day out why not explore Blandford Fashion Museum which also boasts a lovely tearoom.
Blandford nestles in the heart of the gorgeous Dorset countryside and is close to an array of attractions including the impressive National Trust Kingston Lacey estate, with its scenic walks down to the Eye Bridge or Pamphill Green.
You can reach the breath-taking Jurassic coast in under an hour, for cliff tops walks, fossil hunting and kayaking at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. The beaches of Bournemouth are just 40 minutes away and it is easy to hop onto the Blandford to Bournemouth or Blandford to Poole bus to enjoy a traditional seaside day out.
Getting to Location
If you are using a Sat Nav system you may need the full address of this development. The postcode is newly created by Royal Mail and may not be accurate for some months.
Related Developments
Useful Links
- COVID-19 response: our communities are consistently safer - find out why
- Retirement Living or Retirement Living PLUS? Which development type is right for you?
- Homeowner testimonials: what’s it really like to move into our developments?
- Creating communities: read more about our unrivalled properties, services and lifestyle
- Shopping made simple: discover our exclusive telephone-based supermarket delivery service
Please note that images are for illustrative purposes only. Images may include upgrades and optional extras which may be available for you to purchase at an additional cost. Please click here for further explanations. Floor plans and pricing are accurate at time of publication. Floor plans are for guidance purposes only and are subject to change. Prices may fluctuate depending on market conditions and availability.