Lock up and leave apartments in the country

A recent survey predicts that the number of Britons who own a second home overseas will soar to two million by 2025*. Mr and Mrs Rourke, who recently bought a two bedroom apartment at Cliveden Village, a Countryside Properties development in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, also own a property in Australia. When they retire, the couple plan to live in their new apartment for six months and in Australia for the other six months of the year.

Mrs Rourke, (59), comments: "My husband and I are planning on retiring next year and as we own a property and have family in Australia, we want to spend six months of the year out there. We wanted somewhere in the UK where we could just lock up and leave, so we took advantage of Countryside Properties' part exchange scheme and bought a beautiful two bedroom apartment at Cliveden Village. The contemporary architecture was a big draw for us, as it looks stylish but still blends in with the surroundings, and we also love the tranquillity, space and privacy that the development has. The location is great as you are very much in the country, but the development is actually very close to London. The apartment also has a range of eco features, such as a solar hot water system, which is an added bonus for us.

"There is a dedicated concierge who looks after a variety of things on site and a burglar alarm to the apartment, so we feel totally safe with leaving our home, knowing that the apartment is being looked after while we are away. We were not particularly looking for an age exclusive development but in the end it was an attraction to us, as the development does lend itself to the younger generation of retirees and there should be a good community here when everyone moves in. We knew about the Cliveden Estate and it's great to have bought into something with such an interesting history."

Cliveden Village is an exceptional development of 135 spacious, contemporary houses and apartments set in mature woodland in the grounds of the 376 acre National Trust owned Cliveden Estate.

Exteriors of each property use an abundance of natural materials which include smooth oatmeal coloured render, oak woodwork, copper parapets and edging, timber shingles and natural slate roof tiles. Apartments are clad on the front with English sandstone while to the rear, balconies and terraces look into the woodland.

The age exclusive development is not a traditional retirement development and is ideally suited to the young 55 year old and over. The dedicated concierge service operates five days a week and is responsible for the management of maintenance, communal landscaping, refuse, communal recycling and window cleaning as well as being a constant presence for added security.

Interiors offer open plan living spaces with sleek, stylish fixtures and fittings. Secure underground parking is available and residents have access to Cliveden's magnificent National Trust Estate during its normal opening hours.

Wherever possible, the properties at Cliveden Village are built using materials that are renewable, sustainable or recyclable. Solar hot water installations provide renewable energy to the majority of properties. Homes are equipped with low energy external lighting, dual flush toilets and bicycle storage, and houses have water butts.

Prices for current availability start from £299,950. The sales and marketing suite and show homes are open Thursday to Monday from 10.00am until 5.00pm. For further information visit Clivedenvillage.net.

* Report done by accountants, Grant Thornton and Lombard Street Research.