Main sponsor
The seniors housing market is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of healthcare real estate. With three-quarters of all housing wealth in the UK owned by the over-50s there is a generational opportunity to change the make-up of the property market over the next decade. Part of the solution to this societal challenge is the construction of operational real estate that is both fit for purpose and inspiring, whether that be termed senior living, senior housing, housing with care, retirement living, or assisted living schemes – and this thriving sector is finally coming of age in 2021 as investment and operational expertise flows into the space. To recognise this fundamental shift in both the housing and the care market, HealthInvestor UK was delighted to launch the Seniors Housing Awards – which focused on the individuals and teams operating, building, investing in and advising seniors housing facilities. At the first dedicated Seniors Housing Awards, the independent judging panel assessed entries across five distinct categories – development, services, finance and operations, innovation and advisory. The winners were announced at a Gala Dinner, held on Thursday 21 October at the Landmark Hotel London.
Main sponsor
Gold sponsor
Award sponsors
WINNERS FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Seniors housing market investor of the year Octopus Real Estate
Seniors housing capital partner OakNorth Bank
WINNERS ADVISORY
Seniors housing legal advisor of the year Trowers & Hamlins
Seniors housing real estate advisor of the year Knight Frank
WINNERS SERVICES
Best hospitality, retail and wellness environment LifeCare Residences
Best care provision Belong
WINNER Best hospitality, retail and wellness environment LifeCare Residences
Feedback from residents and families
“The staff here could not be more interested in our welfare. They soon become real friends. Their obvious happiness and pride in carrying out their various roles translates into a feeling of contentment for the residents. My many friends who visit are invariably impressed by my good fortune in living here.”
Left and middle: Paul Harries, executive chairman; James Mahaffey, marketing executive
Mrs M-C “I would so much like to thank you,
LifeCare Residences –
One resident summed up ‘lockdown life’
for all you are doing; we are so lucky
We care about living life
as “I say to all my friends who enquire
to be here. The staff are exceptional
This statement, which underpins our
about my welfare, ‘I count my blessings;
– always cheerful and wonderfully
ethos, took on a heightened significance
I simply could not be in a better place’.”
helpful – we are incredibly lucky.”
during the pandemic. An independent,
Anne H
family-owned business, we pride
At LifeCare Residences, our success is
ourselves on creating environments and
ultimately judged on the feedback we
“Thank you for making Battersea Place
opportunities that enable residents to
receive from residents and their families
such an outstanding place to live and
live their lives as they always wanted
– they are the reason that we are proud
for looking after our mum so well.”
to – whether that’s through the provision
to be in this business. Not only does the
Gaby D, resident’s daughter
of unrivalled services, amenities and
delivery of exceptional service provide a
hospitality or teams that go the extra
reward, but it also inspires us to achieve
mile and care deeply about delivering a
greater levels of service.
truly personal service. We are delighted that our focus on For retirees, ‘living life’ under lockdown
providing exceptional service has been
presented numerous challenges. Residing
recognised with the Best Hospitality,
in an environment that facilitates
Retail and Wellness Environment award.
independence had never been more
Reflecting on 15 remarkable years in the
appealing. Indeed, living in a community
UK, filled with wonderful memories, it is
For further details on
where everything you could possibly need
the vibrant resident community that makes
LifeCare Residences and our
is on hand, created a new definition of
LifeCare Residences a truly exceptional
exceptional communities
luxury – whether this involved practical
retirement choice. And, as we embark
please phone 0800 009 6950
initiatives that made life a little more
on the next 15 years, we welcome you
or visit: lifecareresidences.co.uk
comfortable or indulgences that brought
to join us on that journey … whatever life
a spot of joy to days in confinement.
may hold.
For more information about LifeCare Residences visit lifecareresidences.co.uk
Contact details
WINNERS DEVELOPMENT
Seniors housing development of the year – Large Audley Villages – Audley Nightingale Place
Seniors housing development of the year – Small Anchor Hanover – Walrond House
Seniors housing development pipeline Award Birchgrove
WINNER Seniors housing development pipeline Birchgrove
Birchgrove is the proud winner of
Woodbank Apartments
grounds to include an orchard, an
the Senior Housing Awards 2021 for
Hook Heath Village, near Woking
arboretum and formal garden.
development pipeline. The last four of
51, 1 & 2 beds
Birchgrove’s six developments have been
A desirable place to live, with a sense of
Godalming, Surrey
acquired and planned in partnership
peace and privacy. It is here in this area
52, 1 & 2 beds
with Levanter Developments, a specialist
of special residential character, you’ll find
With views over Godalming to the Surrey
procurer of later-living development
Woodbank Apartments – each individually
Hills, the former Mole Country Stores on
projects.
designed to maximise space and light.
Brighton Road in Godalming is a one-
Honor Barratt, managing director,
Lower Mill Apartments,
converted cowshed at its entrance. This
Birchgrove said: “We are so proud to win
Ewell Village, Surrey
52-apartment development is designed to
this prestigious award. We make sure
53, 1 & 2 beds – under construction
the singular standards that have become
that every development is not only future-
When we first saw this site, we
our Birchgrove trademark.
designed to suit peoples’ needs as they age
immediately fell in love with it. With a
but has character to complement the local
rich history dating back to 1867, the
Leatherhead, Surrey
area. This award is credit to our approach
elegant Grade II listed Georgian Mill
The proposed development will include
and the work of the team.”
House and Granary, alongside the banks
the construction of three linked-detached
acre site with a stunning Grade II listed
of the Hogsmill river and views across
buildings each two storeys with rooms
Birchgrove locations
the wooded nature reserve, we instantly
in the roof space to provide a total of 62
As bespoke and individual as the people
knew our experienced team could tailor
high-quality self-contained apartments.
who live in them.
something magical that anyone would be proud to call home.
Queensgate Apartments Upcoming developments…
The judges' comments
Built on the former maternity ward of
Banstead Place, Banstead, Surrey
“Birchgrove has demonstrated a strong
the Queen Mary's Hospital, Queensgate
54, 1 & 2 beds
pipeline of developments to be progressed
Apartments is the first of our assisted living
Set in 4.4 acres, the Manor House at
into 2024 and beyond, sympathetically
communities. Somehow it seems fitting that
Banstead Place is Grade II* listed and
dealing with listed buildings on a number
this site once again offers a fresh approach
dates back to 1790. The site includes
of its sites and evolving design to reduce
to living, this time for those in later life.
numerous listed areas and extensive
the environmental impact of these
Sidcup, near Queen Mary’s Hospital 74, 1, 2 & 3 beds
developments.” “Birchgrove has excellent development pipeline sites with planning in carefully thought-out locations. The site plans themselves reflect desirable village designs.”
For more information about Birchgrove visit birchgrove.life
WINNERS INNOVATION
Most innovative business model / service proposition Birchgrove
Innovation in design and built environment Inspired Villages
Best use of technology in seniors housing Housing21 and Appello
WINNER Most innovative business model / service proposition Birchgrove
Birchgrove is an assisted living operator
The UK housing market is also at the weakest
with a difference; we only plan, build and
point in a decade, creating a greater demand
operate our assisted living developments
for rental properties in the retirement housing
exclusively for the rental market. While other
market. Current forecasts predict that the
“Birchgrove's operating model allows its
operators do rental apartments, no others
number of retired renters will increase to
residents to enjoy their later years in an
arrange their businesses exclusively with
nine million by 2022.
accessible environment with a strong
renters in mind. We are determined to be
The judges' comments
social scene, while also giving them
at the vanguard of expanding the assisted
Honor Barratt, managing director at
the ability to enjoy the benefit of capital
living rental sector in the UK market. We
Birchgrove said: “Renting in retirement opens
released from the sale of their home and
only want our residents to leave Birchgrove
up all sorts of possibilities for people who
the reassurance that care and support
when either death or dementia snatches
may otherwise have been excluded from
packages can be tailored to their needs
them away.
retirement living. They may want to pass on
as time progresses.”
some wealth to their children, they may be We choose to develop exclusively for the
moving to a more expensive area to be near
“A truly unique business model which
assisted living rental market because it’s our
children, they may just feel that they have
aims to provide older people with all they
belief that the ‘for sale’ model excludes a
left it too late to manage the huge capital
could need at a time in their lives when
significant population of older people from
expenditure involved in buying a new home.
change is very daunting. All the details
the market, those for whom managing the
have been considered including the move.
conveyance process, paying Stamp Duty
“Renting isn’t in competition with the ‘for
This business is brave in that it breaks
Land Tax, and signing up to an exit fee is
sale’ model, it’s a valuable alternative. At
the standard business model and seems
too overwhelming. Right now, those people
Birchgrove, we’re 100% committed to
to have given others confidence that the
tend to stay put in their large family homes
renting in retirement and are delighted to
rental market is viable. It is exciting to see
and that can take years off their life, in terms
win this award as sign of our innovation
such a new model launched so quickly into
of falls and debilitating loneliness.
and commitment to this business model.”
the market with others following.”
Representatives from Birchgrove celebrate their two Seniors Housing Awards wins
For more information about Birchgrove visit birchgrove.life
WINNERS GRANDS PRIX
Seniors housing operator of the year Inspired Villages
Seniors housing scheme of the year Audley Villages – Audley Nightingale Place
Steve Allen Group chief executive, Friends of the Elderly
Rachel Hill Chief executive, The Whiteley Homes Trust
Susan Kay Chief executive, Dunhill Medical Trust
Robert Kilgour Executive chairman, Renaissance Care
Mel Knight Care and retirement living sector specialist
Dr George Leeson Professorial fellow, University of Oxford
Richard Martin Relationship manager, property finance, Bank Leumi (UK)
Julienne Meyer Emeritus professor, University of London
Anne-Marie Nicholson Principal, Life3A
Mike Parsons Chair, vice-chair and non-executive director
Nigel Sibley Senior living and retirement village specialist
Simon Webster Partner, Elevation Advisers
David Whiteley Founder, Whiteley Consulting
Many thanks to our 2021 judging panel