This is going to be a big year for McCarthy & Stone reports JANE SLADE as it has just been listed on the stock market and is poised to double its business
Marjorie Crawford (pictured above with the sales team) became McCarthy & Stone’s 50,000th apartment [hidden]McCarthy & Stone[/hidden]owner after moving into her one-bedroom home at Lyle Court in Edinburgh just before Christmas.
Marjorie, 81, paid £239,950 for her property in the assisted living scheme and couldn’t be happier. “Over the years I’ve become increasingly restricted by health issues and recently decided that it was the right time to downsize,” she explained.
“It was important for me to find somewhere more suitable to my needs, but which was still very much my own home. As soon as I stepped through the door, I just knew that Lyle Court was for me – it just felt right.”
There are two one-bedroom apartments remaining at the development priced at £247,950 and £255,950 with service charges costing £111.20 per week.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to move was to regain my independence,” Marjorie added. “I’m unable to drive, and the nearest bus stop was too far for me to walk, so at times I felt like I was trapped in my own home.
“I used to rely heavily upon my daughter to do my food shopping but now I can just pop over the road to get my groceries whenever I want. It’s the small things like this that make all the difference, and now I can finally start to enjoy my retirement.
Now in its 38th year, the UK’s largest retirement home provider is investing £2.5 billion over the next four years developing 12,000 new homes across more than 300 locations, and doubling the size of its business.
Clive Fenton, CEO of McCarthy & Stone, explained: “Our developments give homeowners the opportunity to benefit from the best of both worlds – companionship when they want it and privacy when they need it.
“However, with the number of over 85-year-olds in the UK expected to double between 2014 and 2033, the next 50,000 properties will come around very quickly.
“We know that one in four over 60s is interested in retirement living – that’s 3.5 million individuals – yet only 128,000 units have been built to date.
“While we plan to double the amount of properties we build to 3,000 a year over the medium term, more needs to be done to provide retirees with a better choice of attractive, high-quality homes should they wish to downsize.”
Marjorie, now happily settled in her new home, adds: “The atmosphere here really is wonderful, and even though I still feel rather new, I can’t wait to get stuck into all that the development has to offer. One of the great things about Lyle Court is its fantastic table-service restaurant, so if I don’t want to cook I don’t have to.”
To find out more about McCarthy & Stone’s developments, visit mccarthyandstone.co.uk
