Octagon Retirement

October 2010

Octagon, appreciating the growing need for luxury retirement properties, particularly where additional care and support can be opted into as and when required, are entering this senior lifestyle market with a delightful and innovative scheme of 16 luxury cottages. These will be for sale to purchasers where the principal occupier is 60 years of age or older.

They are building in a unique retirement environment called Whiteley Village, in Walton on Thames, midway between Weybridge and Hersham.  As HRH Prince of Wales says, “the village is a national treasure of arts and crafts architecture of enduring character”.  It is, in essence, a quintessential English village.’

The village, a bequest of philanthropist William Whitely, and managed by the Whiteley Homes Trust, have sold a piece of their property to Octagon, to create their first retirement properties for private sale. Knowing and trusting Octagon influenced the Trust’s decision, recognising all the sensitivities of introducing a third party into the village.

This is now a listed village, set within green belt, and the new homes had to be designed to be in sympathy with existing dwellings.  The Octagon site is on a secluded plot which accommodated the original stables, and has its own private gated vehicular access directly off the Seven Hills Road.

The scheme involves conserving, converting and modernising some existing mews style buildings, into sixteen traditional style cottages, which are set around a beautifully landscaped courtyard. Each home has either1, 2 or 3 bedrooms.  The interiors are up to Octagon’s usual high standards, with luxury marble hallways and bathrooms, underfloor heated ground floors, bespoke kitchens with a full range of integrated appliances, fitted wardrobes and fitted carpets. Each property has the latest insulation, full security alarm system, and the added benefit of a private garage with automated doors.

Housed in their own office on site, will be the Octagon ‘concierges’ who will be linked to all cottages and there to support and assist with all residents’ needs.

All the properties will be for sale on the open market to purchasers who meet the age criteria.  The communal services, grounds and facilities used and enjoyed by the other Whitely Village residents will be extended to the Octagon purchasers for a modest annual service charge.  A perfect rural environment to live, or to house parents or relatives close to Walton, Weybridge and Cobham.

Price guide for the new mews cottages range from £500,000 to £900,000. Leases 150 years. The first completions are scheduled for late 2010. Call Octagon on 0208 481 7500.