Retirees Opt For Town Centre Living
A recent trend has seen an increase in retirees opting to move into town centre homes as opposed to the more traditional movement pattern of retired downsizers to coastal and overseas property.
Multi-award winning UK house builder, Higgins Homes specialises in town centre homes and has seen a recent increase in this trend. One example is at The Old Hospital, an attractive historic conversion development in Maidstone, Kent, where a number of the new homes have been purchased by retired buyers attracted
to the combination of classical Period architecture, contemporary living, reduced living costs and a fabulous town centre location.
John Allen is a retired business owner who recently purchased one of Higgins Homes’ two bedroom penthouses at The Old Hospital in Maidstone.
Mr Allen comments: “I retired at 50 and at the time, my wife and I decided to move out to the sunny shores of Spain. While we enjoyed the weather and the beautiful scenery, we missed our family, so after six and a half years we moved back to Kent to be closer to our daughters and grandchildren.
“Since my wife passed away earlier this year, I knew more and more that I wanted to live amongst the buzz of a town centre and so The Old Hospital was an obvious choice for me. I’m never lonely as I have friendly neighbours, I can walk across the road to see my friends in the pub and the shops are also a short walk away. My locality to everything is a privilege.”
Jeremy Marcus, Sales & Marketing Director, Higgins Homes, added: “Higgins Homes has recognised that an increasing number of people are attracted to the
convenience of town centres when they downsize. The Old Hospital is a draw because it ticks all the right boxes for so many people.
“The interior specifications at The Old Hospital are exceptionally high and filled with a range of contemporary fittings, including designer Urban Myth kitchens, ensuring that homes here are very low maintenance and inexpensive to heat. Another popular feature is the development’s environmental credentials. Heating
is provided by an economical and ecologically friendly air-driven heat exchange system, which is one of the reasons why The Old Hospital received a ‘Very Good’ rating under Code 3 of The Code for Sustainable Homes.”
The Old Hospital comprises an elegant collection of Grade-II listed buildings as well as a number of new apartment buildings comprising one and two bedroom flats. Ideally located just off Church Street in the heart of Maidstone, residents benefit from easy access to the local high street with its range of shops, restaurants
and cafes, nearby parks and gardens and a frequent train service from East Maidstone into London.*
Mr Allen adds: “I also have a private parking space on site and while I don’t have to drive anywhere in town, I can pop out to see my daughters and grandchildren regularly. It also helps when I get roped in to babysitting! If I decide that I don’t want the hassle of owning and running my own vehicle in the future however, Higgins Homes also offers a Zipcar scheme, giving residents access to a shared vehicle twenty four hours a day.** Life just seems sorted!”
Stunning one bedroom apartments at The Old Hospital start from just £137,500 for a One bedroom apartment and £154,950 for two bedrooms. For further information please contact the sales and marketing suite on: 01622 661511 or via www.higginshomes.co.uk.
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Sources:
* Travel from Maidstone East station to London Victoria takes approximately one hour. See www.nationalrail.co.uk for details.
** Higgins Homes and Zipcar® are working together to provide The Old Hospital residents with simple 24/7 access to cars when they need them. There is now a BMW 1 Series parked right outside which can be booked by the hour, day, week or month and residents can join for free.
You can drive your local BMW 1 Series for just £6.95 per hour including 30 miles of free petrol, unlimited free petrol on longer trips, and fully comprehensive insurance. Book online, unlock with a smartcard or mobile phone, and drive away. When you’re done just bring it back.
For more information on Higgins Homes and Zipcar at The Old Hospital, please visit http://www.higginshomes.co.uk/developments/dev76/streetcar.cfm