Posted 21 November 2017 by
Keith OsborneWith all its impressive features, it is no wonder that Dorset is often seen as one of Britain’s best places to retire to.
Prudential’s annual analysis of the nation’s counties for statistics such as weather, crime levels, access to healthcare and life expectancy, alongside figures for the percentage of resident pensioners, their income and the inward/outward movement of people of pension age, has put Dorset at or near the top of its report for several years. Add to that its wonderful countryside and coastline and the county’s appeal becomes very clear.
With the Office for National Statistics seeing a national proportion of over-65s at 18%, the figures for all parts of the county - 31% for East Dorset and Christchurch, 30% for West Dorset and 27% for Purbeck at the top of the list - are all well above the national mean, demonstrating how popular it is for those of a senior age.
Dedicated retirement developments are increasingly popular for those over 55-years-old and Dorset has some of very high quality.
These developments are built in two different ways, either a self-contained building comprising apartments and a few communal facilities, or a ‘retirement village’. The latter are usually set over a large site and comprising the residential properties, perhaps a mix of apartments with houses and bungalows, with a range of facilities for the people living there - perhaps a gym, swimming pool, sports facilities, restaurant, shop and landscaped gardens.
We take a look at the best current developments for retirees in Dorset:
Retiring in Bridport
The market town of Bridport is near the coast in the west of the county and is well-known for its focus on the arts world, with some excellent venues and a number of annual festivals, including those for food, painting and literature.
The WhatHouse? Housebuilder of the Year 2016, Churchill Retirement Living, is Britain’s second-largest specialist in these types of development. Alfred Lodge offers 26 apartments with one or two bedrooms and is located close to the town centre, in easy reach of its amenities and shops. It is also little more than half-an-hour’s walk from the beach and harbour of charming West Bay. Prices currently start at £266,950.
Retiring in Dorchester
On the western outskirts of the county town is Poundbury, a new community that has been built over nearly 25 years with the support of Prince Charles on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. It is expected to comprise around 2,500 homes when completed.
Leading retirement homes builder McCarthy & Stone is offering a range of one- and two-bedroom flats at Bowes Lyon Court, an assisted living development for over-70s, with prices starting at £255,000. It has an on-site restaurant, billiards area and wellbeing suite, as well as a guest suite for visiting friends and family to use.
With 68 one- and two-bedroom apartments and a 40-unit nursing home on site, Somerleigh Court from LifeCare Residences is close to the town centre and within easy reach of its many shops and facilities. The development offers a complete range of assistance to residents who need it, from home help to dementia care.
Retiring in Poole
Set on the largest natural harbour in Europe, Poole is perfect for those who enjoy the coast. The county’s second-largest town has a wealth of amenities of its own, neighbours Bournemouth and has excellent transport links, with regular rail links to London and Weymouth and ferry services to the Channel Islands.
Set by Compton Acres gardens, Azaleas, a McCarthy & Stone development of just 20 luxurious apartments exclusively for over-55s, neighbouring the affluent suburb of Canford Cliffs and beautiful Compton Acres. There is a mix of two- and three-bedroom, high-specification homes, each with a balcony/terrace and private parking. Prices at this prestigious development start at £595,000.
Retiring in Weymouth
Halfway along the Jurassic Coast and just north of the Isle of Portland, Weymouth is Dorset’s third-largest town and popular with residents and tourists alike. Enjoying global focus upon hosting sports at the 2012 Olympic Games, the resort’s impressive transport links and proximity to beautiful coast and countryside are just two of its appealing features.
With prices starting at £229,000 for one of the few remaining two-bedroom apartments, Harbour Lights Court from McCarthy & Stone is a retirement living developments for over-60s which overlooks Weymouth Marina. There’s a club lounge, terrace and garden for residents to enjoy, with a guest suite for hire too. Amenities and shops are close at hand and it is under 10 minutes’ drive to Chesil Beach.
Retiring in Blandford Forum
On the border of Cranborne Chase and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this market town is right in the centre of the county and some of its most stunning countryside. Famed for its impressive Georgian architecture, this town has a good range of amenities and shops of its own and is also within easy reach of delightful Shaftesbury as well as Salisbury, Poole and Dorchester.
Just a few miles north, in Iwerne Minster, Home Farm is a lovely retirement village from Cognatum. Set in a site of several acres, farm buildings have been converted into properties alongside new build neighbours, each complemented by a conservatory and balcony. This development is a short walk from the village itself. Prices currently start at £275,000.