Rory Stewart MP kick starts McCarthy & Stone’s construction

The right honourable Rory Stewart MP, the Conservative representative for Penrith and The Border, formally marked the commencement of construction at McCarthy & Stone’s forthcoming Retirement Living development on Friargate in Penrith by attending an official ground breaking ceremony last week.

Mr Stewart joined McCarthy & Stone’s Regional Land Director, Christopher Watson, to commemorate the first steps in the construction of 48 independent retirement apartments, which have been designed specifically to help those aged over 60 make the most of later life.

Mr Stewart commented: “I'm very pleased to be able to be here today for the McCarthy & Stone groundbreaking exercise, showing that innovative housing solutions can be found for older people living in the town. Living independently and securely is so important, and with an increasingly older, healthier population living longer, it is great to see us piloting exciting ventures like this in Cumbria. This sort of concept has the potential to benefit the communities of our rural market town in years to come.”

Offering the independence of retaining home ownership while living in an environment specifically designed for those reaching their later years, McCarthy & Stone’s Retirement Living developments make a popular choice for downsizers who want more time in which to embrace the possibilities of later life.

Facilities include a shared lounge, a guest suite, laundry room and lifts. A dedicated house manager ensures the smooth running of the development and there is also a security entrance system plus 24-hour emergency call points to provide peace of mind for both residents and their families. All properties are low maintenance and energy efficient.

“We feel extremely honoured to have been able to welcome Mr Stewart to our Penrith site, and were delighted by his positive response to our approach to delivering lifestyles tailored to meet the needs of the over 60’s,” added Christopher Watson of McCarthy & Stone. “As life expectancy continues to increase, the need for adequate housing for those in later life is becoming even more important. There are currently more people over state pension age in Britain than there are children, and McCarthy & Stone believes that more focus needs to be put on creating accommodation that will better address the needs of a rapidly ageing population.”

Conveniently located on Friargate, just a short distance from the quaint centre of historic Penrith and nestled on the outskirts of the Lake District, the new development is situated near to all local shops and amenities. The purpose built apartments will provide homeowners with a manageable and secure living environment, whilst giving them the additional peace of mind of always having a helping hand close-by.

For more information about this, and other McCarthy & Stone developments in the region, visit mccarthyandstone.co.uk.