New Chapter And New Friends For Taunton Homeowner
Ian Mackenzie, 77, enjoys living in the ‘iconic’ Quantock House independent-living community in the centre of Taunton, which is close to the local amenities such as shops, cafes, theatres, and the world-famous cricket ground.
He has made a host of friends since moving into his apartment at the start of the year, having downsized from a four-bedroom family home following the death of his beloved wife.
Ian says: “It is definitely an iconic building and stands out in Taunton, so when I saw the plans for it before completion, I knew that I wanted to have a look around. There are seven floors to the building and you can more or less pick your view. The apartments are completely fitted out with the latest appliances and there is no maintenance to do like there was in my last house. Since I moved here, I've made friends with everybody who has moved in, and we get on extremely well together. Some people with similar interests group together and take part in activities aligned to that.
“A few weeks ago, a group of us boys gathered up and started our own breakfast club every Sunday morning. We choose a different café or restaurant for breakfast each week and we have a good old chat together. We all thoroughly enjoy it. We have also set up our walking group once a week, where we walk around different parts of the town, and others who are more green-fingered have started a gardening club.”
Quantock House features a host of purpose-built apartments benefiting from communal facilities including a bistro and bar, activity room, treatment room, guest suite and homeowners’ lounge. Apartments are available to buy in Quantock House from £105,000 with the Platinum Skies Shared Ownership scheme.
Reflecting on the move, Ian adds: “The best bit about living here is having a lovely apartment, with a lovely view. I can sit there all day and watch the view if I want to, which is ideal. Living here means you can do what you want and take part in what you want to take part in. If you want to be alone, you can be alone. If you want company, you can have company. Plus, I love being in the middle of all of the town’s amenities.”
Quantock House features two dedicated on-site community managers who organise activities such as live music events, coffee mornings, gardening talks and Pilates, as well as providing practical and emotional support.
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