Seven ways Beechcroft homes are designed with retirement in mind

For over four decades, Beechcroft has been creating award-winning developments, designed specifically for active, independent people over the age of 55. Many of the benefits of moving to one of Beechcroft’s age-exclusive developments are immediately apparent: a desirable location close to shops and services, a beautifully landscaped, fully maintained setting, a community of like-minded people and an estate management service on hand.

Written by

Sheila Frampton

Designed to suit later lifestyles

The specific benefits of Beechcroft's elegant properties, however, may not be obvious at first – or second – glance.

But the designs of our new and converted houses and apartments are the result of many years of research and customer feedback – and here we outline some of the features that make our homes more suitable for later life than mainstream properties.

An older couple sat in their sun room
A dining table surrounded by windows and curtains
A lady using an iPad while sat next to a fire place in her drawing room

1. Plenty of living space and the correct number of bedrooms 

Many people consider moving from the family home when the ‘children’ have ‘flown the nest’ leaving rarely used bedrooms that still require heating and cleaning.

Just because you require fewer bedrooms, however, doesn’t mean that you want to sacrifice living space – particularly if you have large pieces of furniture, enjoy entertaining, or are simply accustomed to having generously proportioned rooms. 

At Beechcroft, one of our founding principles was to create homes for the over 55s with plenty of living space but fewer bedrooms than a mainstream house of a similar size.  As a result of this policy, many of our two-bedroom homes are comparable in size to new, three- or even four-bedroom houses.

“I am still surprised at the amount of space in my new home and my friends are amazed at the size of the rooms. I have a piece of furniture that my husband made for our former dining room and, even though it is large, it fits into the hallway of my new home perfectly. I have two bedrooms because I needed an extra bedroom for my son who comes to stay, and he has his own en-suite which is ideal.”

Mrs Markham, Beechcroft homeowner

2.  Designed with flexibility in mind

Over the years in which you live in a home, the ways you use it and what you need from it may change. 

With an increasing number of family members, you may need more space for entertaining, or you may face some physical challenges.  The interiors of Beechcroft homes are designed with adaptability in mind.

Apartments provide lift access, and, in all properties, wider hallways are suitable for wheelchair access whilst wide staircases allow for the installation of stairlifts, should these be necessary in future. In homes with two or more bedrooms, at least two bedrooms are doubles, providing suitable accommodation for a live-in carer.

In older family homes, the formal dining room often becomes redundant when the family has left home but those homebuyers who choose an apartment with a dining/hall, there’s a spacious hallway that can accommodate a dining table for more formal occasions but which is also ideal for use as a study or library.

3. Fixtures and fittings designed to promote good health.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it became apparent that having a home environment that promotes good hygiene can make a significant difference to health and well-being as well as providing peace of mind.

New Beechcroft Healthihouse™ properties now feature fixtures and fittings designed to kill viruses and prevent the spread of bacteria, mould and mildew. Light switches and door handles have a Safetouch anti-bacterial coating, so homeowners don’t have to worry about picking up an infection caused by micro-organisms when opening doors or flicking on the lights. 

Easy-clean, hygienic, non-porous Silestone worksurfaces in the kitchens, utility room, bathrooms and en-suites are stain and crack resistant and feature built-in antimicrobial protection. Easy-clean wall panelling in the bathrooms is an excellent, more hygienic, alternative to tiling without the need for grout which can absorb bacteria and provide a medium for the growth of mould. Sanitaryware is equally hygienic and easily cleaned. Basins and wc seats incorporate technology designed to suppress bacterial and mould growth whilst shower trays contain Biocote® technology which reduces bacterial and mould growth by up to 99.9%.

Each Beechcroft Healthihouse™ also has a whole house ventilation system which provides fresh, filtered air to all the principal living rooms, resulting in a healthier and more comfortable environment for residents, removing odours, aiding respiration and keeping temperatures consistent. As air is pre-warmed, whole house ventilation can lead to a reduction in heating costs during the colder months. A kitchen tap water filtration system reduces limescale, organic impurities, chlorine, and metals which means better tasting water with less limescale.

A woman drinking coffee in her bedroom
People raising a glass of red wine in a living room
A grandmother and granddaughter washing up

4. Manageable private outdoor space

The majority of Beechcroft properties feature outdoor space – a terrace, balcony, private garden or a combination of these.

Dog owners appreciate the fact that the private gardens are fenced rather than opening directly onto the communal grounds. 

The carefully planned and planted private gardens are maintained by the Estate Manager so homeowners never come home from holiday to an overgrown lawn.  Planted pots, brimming with flowering shrubs or herbs, brighten private terraces and balconies.

5. Beautifully landscaped, fully maintained communal settings

The decision to downsize is often prompted by the challenges of maintaining a large garden but many homeowners regret the loss of their gardens.

At Beechcroft, we understand this and, as a result, ensure that landscaping is an integral part of the development’s design rather than an afterthought. Our award-winning, communal gardens, maintained by the estate management service, are designed to resemble the gardens our homeowners have left behind.

Planting is carefully considered, providing year-round colour and interest with a variety of heights and textures and rich underplanting. If homeowners enjoy gardening, they are able to help with the maintenance as long as the original planting schedule is retained. Gardens are level, featuring smooth paths and low-level lighting and soon become socialising spaces, where residents meet, relax, chat, walk dogs or hold events and celebrations.

Four older people sat enjoying wine outside
Two people drinking tea on their balcony
Four people sat in communal gardens

6. Residents’ lounges where you can meet friends and neighbours and enjoy events.

On many Beechcroft developments, you’ll discover a comfortable, beautifully decorated, residents’ lounge or residents’ pavilion, with a kitchen area.

These communal areas swiftly become the ‘hub’ of the community; places where residents can come together and socialise with friends or neighbours without having to do so in their own homes.

Residents get together for meetings, events, celebrations, quiz nights or to play cards or board games such as Scrabble. Some residents organise fitness classes, craft sessions or book clubs in these communal spaces.

7. Luxurious guest suites to book for visitors

Luxurious guest suites, a feature of many developments, may be booked for visiting family and friends.

Whilst you may prefer to entertain guests in your own home, if you have more guests than you can easily accommodate or if you’d rather not have to change the linen and clean up when your visitors have left, the guest suite, with its en-suite and tea/coffee-making facilities, offers the ideal alternative.

Two people drinking tea in the communal lounge
A group of people chatting in a communal lounge
A man with his suitcase in the guest suite.

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