Huge success for the UK’s most unlikely developer
As the Superior General of the St Augustine Order, Sister Thomas is definitely not your stereotypical developer! However, as recently recognised by Her Majesty the Queen, Sister Thomas MBE has achieved enormous success in developing a pioneering state of the art retirement village in Ditchling, East Sussex where residents can enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle in a caring and safe environment.
St George’s Park is a multi-award winning retirement village which offers a wealth of social and leisure facilities, where residents enjoy the unique experience of living in the same community as 25 Sisters of the Augustine Order, including Sister Thomas. The convent and the chapel have been refurbished and residents are invited to attend services if they choose, however everyone is welcome no matter what their beliefs.
Originating from the need to replace the existing care home, due to new government regulations introduced in 1998, the retirement village was built to help fund three new care homes. Having provided essential care for the local community for over 150 years, the Sisters also wanted to help provide more facilities to help an increased number of older people in the local community.
Sister Thomas joined the Order in 1963, completed her nursing training in 1968 and became Superior General in 1993. She comments: “It took 6 years before the planning application was approved and in those years there were setbacks. When our original plan was withdrawn, we visited other retirement villages, consulted with architects and came up with our own unique idea. Our application was approved in June 2004 after a planning meeting where we were privileged to have the former Prime Minister, Lord Callaghan as one of our supporters!”
“The concept of the village and state of the art care homes has enabled the Sisters to continue to provide their unique care to vulnerable people and to extend our ethos to provide a pleasant and secure environment for people in their later life.”
Sister Thomas continues: “Since the opening of St George’s Park, we have not only provided excellent new homes and a great range of facilities but have helped residents maintain independent living as much as possible. People can benefit from an active and sociable life, and enjoy their later years doing a host of activities. There is something for everyone from the minibus which goes into town daily to the onsite farm where people can see the animals. Many people also take pleasure from looking after their own allotment whilst others love to meet friends in the restaurant for lunch or dinner.”
Sister Thomas adds: “It has been a wonderful and vibrant experience and it is life-giving to see it all happening at St George’s Park. We are now starting work on the final phase of development which should be released for sale this summer and will include the swimming pool and spa.”
At present there are a number of two bedroom apartments available for immediate occupation, including properties from £320,000 in Birch Walk and homes in The Cedars from £360,000.
All of the apartments are generously proportioned, well planned, light and finished to a very high specification. They are fully accessible for wheelchair users and residents with mobility impairments, while offering attractive, contemporary interiors. For peace of mind, all of the apartments come with monitored security, video entry and fire alarm systems.
The wide range of facilities include an excellent restaurant, concierge, convenience shop, multi-function gym, hairdressing salon, treatment suite, games and snooker room, library with IT and internet service, bowling green and croquet lawn. The active Residents’ Association organises a packed timetable including table tennis, snooker, line dancing, short tennis, croquet and short mat bowls. The original concert hall also makes an ideal place for special occasions, communal gatherings and other events including plays, guest speakers, film nights or concerts.
Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill are less than 3 miles from St George’s Park, offering good local shopping including major supermarkets and excellent rail links to Brighton, Gatwick Airport and London Victoria.
For further information on St George’s Park, visit stgeorgespark.co.uk.
