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Escape to the country
Flat Liv ingLifestyle a t h om e w it h l e a Se ho ld
Audley Retirement Villages has just opened the doors of its latest development in Kent. FLAT LIVING takes a look inside
IN APRIL, Audley Retirement Villages opened the doors of the main house at its new Mote House development near Bearsted, Maidstone for the first time since it was built * in 1797. Situated in the heart of Mote Park, the historic Grade II* listed Georgian house, which has been sympathetically restored, will house 14 luxury apartments and the Audley Club. The club’s facilities will include a bar and bistro, restaurant, gym, swimming pool and library. People from the local community aged 55 and over will be invited to join as well as residents.
The apartments at Audley Mote House are available to view by appointment. The show apartment, which boasts a number of original period features, was created by interior designer Carol Gearing. Having been in development for five years, the renovation of Mote House is due for completion this summer. The Mote House Village will ultimately consist of 100 houses, cottages and apartments, which are available to purchase by anyone over the age of 55. There is currently a mixture of properties for sale including 12 remaining apartments available in the main house.
The renovation, which includes the design of the surrounding grounds, has been undertaken in accordance with strict
the show apartment was designed by interior designer carol gearing
guidelines to ensure that the house retains its original character. Original features of the house and the estate include: n The clock tower from the original medieval fifteenth-century mansion
Fascinating Facts
The house was designed by Daniel Asher Alexander. He also designed Maidstone and Dartmoor prisons, although his first commission was to widen the Medway Bridge in Rochester
In 1531, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visited Mote Park before their marriage.
In 1799, King George III and Prime Minister William Pitt visited the property to inspect around 3,000 assembled troops of the Kent Volunteers, a local militia trained to defend the country from a possible invasion by Napoleon 1 of France.
Between 1932 and 1941, Mote House (known then as “The Mote”) was home to the Caldecott Community (now the Caldecott Foundation), a nursery organisation that had relocated to Maidstone from its original home in London following the First World War.
In 1941, Mote House was commandeered by the British Armed Forces as a headquarters and training facility during the Second World War. It was subsequently used as offices for the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
from a possible invasion by Napoleon 1 of France.
Between 1932 and 1941, Mote House (known then as “The Mote”) was home to the Caldecott Community (now that had relocated to the First World War. In 1941, Mote House was commandeered by the British Armed Forces as a headquarters and training facility during the Second World War. It was subsequently used as offices for the Ministry Daniel Asher of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Alexander n Original stables n The Old Brew House n Georgian water pump n Ice houses n Original staircase in the main house n Georgian steps within the grounds overlooking the Len Valley.
Much of the renovation work has been undertaken by employees from Kent. Once the main house has opened, Audley will continue to recruit locally, particularly for guest services including restaurant staff, bar staff, health & fitness staff.
Audley has been building and managing luxury retirement villages for more than a decade. The company’s aim is to enable residents to live an independent and healthy later life in their own homes, in a like-minded community with access to flexible care packages and a wide range of leisure facilities via the on-site club.
Mote House 14 Peverel 16 competition winners Grounds & 18 gardens
The Grade 11* listed Mote House dates from Georgian times
The company was founded by CEO Nick Sanderson in 2000 to provide high quality accommodation designed for older people which includes access to flexible on-site care. Audley is now a leading provider of high quality accommodation for older people in the UK, claiming a reputation for the sensitive renovation and redevelopment of important yet neglected buildings. They choose properties in substantial grounds in desirable locations, creating an exclusive country club in the main building, then adding a number of carefully designed apartments and cottages around it. Residents own their homes, buying their house or apartment from Audley on a 125-year lease and enjoying full membership of the Audley Club. All Audley retirement homes are built in landscaped grounds with leisure facilities. The result is a village, complete with its own facilities and 24-hour security, which also forms part of the wider local community.
The majority of retired people in the UK today are homeowners but too often they find themselves relatively asset rich but cash poor, says Nick Sanderson. At the same time, they need housing options that meet their aspirations for the future, enable them to remain independent and release income that would otherwise be locked away. Nick believes the more that can be done to resolve this situation, the greater the potential to use the estimated £1 trillion housing equity held by over 60s to fund a high quality lifestyle. “However,” he says, “unless older people discuss with their families and their advisors how they want to live as well as fund their retirement early on they will do nothing until they face an acute situation, such as a fall, before ending up with very thing they fear most – institutional care”. He adds that many people assume that care will be state funded, where in fact the majority of people will fund their own care due to the low thresholds required for state funding.
In response to this situation, Audley has developed what Nick calls the ‘extra care model’ whereby people retain their own front door but are able to receive care in their own home if necessary. Audley’s CEO believes this represents a positive way of downsizing to a higher quality of life, while still retaining property equity that can be passed onto children.
Audley now has six retirement villages around England, comprising around 100 units each, designed to encourage older people to enjoy an active lifestyle and allow individuals to stay in control of their own home as well as their future care needs. Residents can access increased care support packages on a completely flexible basis according to their needs.
Typical prices start at £249,000 for a firstfloor apartment or a two-bedroom cottage for £360,000. ●
