Retirement apartments provide perfect mix of privacy and community
The population is ageing and the number of retirees continues to grow but today sixty five is as likely to signal the start of something new in life as it is the beginning of a benign dotage. The increasing popularity of specialist retirement developments reflects this trend as older couples are seeking to downsize from the responsibilities of a large family home and move to a smaller luxury apartment freeing up both time and capital to allow them to fully enjoy their retirement.
This week sees the release of the final two apartments at Fairview New Homes’s Park Lodge development in Tunbridge Wells. The development is a collection of apartments exclusively for the over 55s and offers owners total independence and privacy as in any modern luxury apartment block. The development has its own manager / concierge and beautifully maintained communal gardens.
Where Park Lodge differs from a non-specialist block is in the provision of large stylish reception rooms and conservatory that are open to all the residents. As one resident explains:
“We have a special owners’ lounge where everyone who lives at Park Lodge can just pop down and have a chat and a coffee with whoever is there. It is like having our own private tea room next door. I would guess that I am in the lounge every other day.”
The refined sense of community is just one of the benefits of living at Park Lodge.
Alec and Elizabeth Western have travelled the world. During his career managing aviation fuels Alec spent much of his life visiting far-flung places and the travelling bug has stayed with him in his retirement. The couple have a holiday home in New Zealand and now spend half their year exploring the islands of the South Pacific but had been looking for a new home that would act as a perfect base in the UK. In July this year they bought brand new a two bedroom apartment in Park Lodge.
“We wanted something that was not too big and that was easy to maintain and that would be looked after when we were in New Zealand each winter. It is a great weight off our mind to know that our new home will be looked after whilst we are away. The Lodge Manager will keep an eye on the place and other residents will collect our post so that there is no tell-tale pile of letters on the door mat.
“It is brand new so we have no maintenance worries and it is just ten minutes walk from the very centre of town. We have a beautiful oak tree outside our window and we can spend ages just watching the squirrels leaping around. We also have a lovely view over the town to the South Downs.”
As a retirement base, Tunbridge Wells is hard to beat. The town is beautiful with the famous Georgian architecture and hilly aspect providing a picture postcard back drop to retirement life. The famous Pantiles in the centre of town, where Queen Victoria used to come and ‘take the spa waters’, is now a popular shopping area and whilst the town has all of the large chain stores there are also lots of successful and quirky independent shops.
Tunbridge Wells is blessed with parks and open spaces for a quiet walk or even an impromptu picnic and for those wanting to go further afield, the town is very well served for public transport. You can be in London in less than an hour on the train and the regular bus service runs directly to Eastbourne and Brighton.
The very last two apartments at Park Lodge in Kingswood Road are now available from just £219,950.
All apartments at Park Lodge are fitted with a well-proportioned kitchen and each 2 bedroom apartment features an en suite bathroom. There is a lift providing easy access to all floors.
For further information, visit fairview.co.uk.
