Rangeford Villages, the award-winning later living provider and operator, has announced that a hybrid planning application (ref: DM/23/2699) for an IRC and wider mixed-use residential community submitted by Welbeck has been approved unanimously by Mid-Sussex District Council.
Rangeford expects to develop their section of the site, which is part of the existing Imberhorne Farm estate, subject to obtaining a reserved matters planning consent, with a collection of 150 state-of-the-art art one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as two-bedroom bungalows. In keeping with Rangeford’s full-service Integrated Retirement Community (IRC) model, the development will provide a focus on wellness and include a wealth of exceptional amenities comprising first-class wellbeing facilities for owners, friends, family members and qualifying members of the public, with a fully equipped gym and spa which includes a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gymnasium and exercise studio.
The village will also have an abundance of other facilities, including a restaurant and coffee shop with an outdoor terrace, a hair and beauty salon, treatment rooms, dance, activity, members lounge and TV room.
As with other Rangeford villages, there will be extensive communal gardens with a village green, croquet lawn, boule court, plus fully landscaped gardens with raised beds for owners and a kitchen garden for the restaurant.
Discreet, personalised 24-hour care and support services will also be available onsite through the village’s CQC registered domiciliary agency, Rangeford Care, solely dedicated to providing custom care packages for any owners who may need extra support.
Howard Nankivell, CEO of Rangeford Villages, commented: “Once again, this acquisition, the seventh site secured by Rangeford, represents another step in Rangeford’s ambitious growth journey to address the shortage of senior housing across the UK by developing high quality, service-led integrated retirement communities. The development will I am sure, be a welcome addition to the local community, as well as boosting the local economy with significant job creation both during the construction phase and once the village is fully operational.”
Kevin Beirne, Head of Retirement at Octopus Real Estate, commented: “This further investment in Rangeford is testament to the progress they have made in delivering retirement communities of the highest quality, with strong customer appreciation underpinning our returns.”
Doug Jones, Land and Planning Director of Rangeford Villages, continued: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to secure yet another high-quality site. We look forward to working with the wider consultancy team to bring the exciting plans to life, and to introduce Rangeford’s highly coveted lifestyle-focused living to the over-60 community in and around East Grinstead.”
Located on a sandstone ridge beside the Ashdown Forest, East Grinstead is the capital of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Rangeford’s new development will offer stunning countryside views and yet is conveniently situated near to the medieval town centre, just over 2 miles away.
Owners will be able to enjoy an array of amenities with something to suit everyone, including a variety of independent shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. For lovers of outdoor pursuits, the surrounding area has a wealth of walking paths, cycling routes as well as the new proposed 12-hectare parkland that will be delivered as part of the wider masterplan. There are also several historical sites of interest, including medieval buildings, museums and the much-loved Bluebell steam railway that runs for 11 miles between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead.
As with previous developments, Rangeford Villages has teamed up with Octopus Real Estate, part of Octopus Investments and a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor, for the project. Once completed, it will be operated by Rangeford.
The acquisition of the East Grinstead site further expands Rangeford’s national footprint, which currently consists of six retirement villages across the UK: Wadswick Green in Wiltshire, Mickle Hill in North Yorkshire, Siddington Park in Cirencester, Homewood Grove in Chertsey, Strawberry Fields in Cambridgeshire, and Oakley Hall Estate in Hampshire.
East Grinstead, which is conveniently situated 30 miles south of London, is well connected by rail and road with easy access to the M23, M25, and A22. Regular train services connect East Grinstead with London Victoria in just over an hour.