Posted 25 November 2020 by
Keith OsborneWhile many retirement living developments are in town, countryside and coastal locations, there’s an audience of older buyers who love spending their free time making the very most of what our capital city offers.
Specialist developer Pegasus, part of the Lifestory group, has recognised this and recently opened a luxury development on Horseferry Road in Westminster. They recently invited us along to take a look first-hand, observing all the distancing and health and safety regulations.
Chimes comprises 39 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including two penthouses and two ‘sub-penthouses’, in a contemporary block designed by architects Mæ with pale green brickwork and large, bronze-framed windows. The building is split into four ‘quarters’, each of which has its own lift, to provide some privacy and exclusivity for residents. In the centre is a garden courtyard and fully glazed colonnade, bringing lots of natural light in. It’s also very quiet, a little oasis in such a busy part of central London.
The spacious, well-furnished reception area is a great place for neighbours to mingle and welcome guests and off it is a handy kitchen area that is perfect for preparing social events. There’s a lot of glazing around this room, so it is very well-lit, and one end is a conservatory which overlooks the courtyard. This adds to the sense of space, and the doors open onto it, which will be perfect in warmer weather.
There’s a guest suite located on the ground floor, which is a large room with a very high ceiling giving the room a real sense of space and comfort. It comes with a double bed, plenty of storage, its own fridge and kettle, a high-quality bathroom which is accessible for those with mobility issues. The room also has a large window looking onto a well-manicured garden area.
Chimes also comes with a spa area with facilities for private hire. There’s an exercise/pilates room, and Pegasus has found that things such as stretch classes have become very popular. Here, there is also a treatment room and a sauna/steam room for an extra touch of luxury.
The two-bedroom show home is perfect for investigating all the details of a very high specification and design ethic. These include higher-than-average ceilings, full-height windows, comfort cooling, video entry system, and light wood herringbone flooring.
The kitchen and living room are open plan, making it a great space for entertaining family and friends. London’s cafés and restaurants are sure to be high on the to-do list of Chimes residents but when using the kitchen, there are high-end, integrated appliances, quartz stone worktops and plentiful storage. The breakfast bar is great for an informal drink and meal but there’s room for a dining table for more formal occasions.
Off the hallway of the show home, one corner has been cleverly furnished with a desk to show that ‘working from home’ can be both comfortable and stylish.
The bedrooms also come with the large windows, and the main bedrooms come with built-in wardrobes and an en suite to the master bedroom. Bathrooms are a generous size and have luxury sanitaryware, tiling and vanity marble tops, wall-to-wall mirrored cabinets and either a bath or walk-in shower.
The guest suite at Chimes
All residents have access to a furnished roof terrace with great views over the city. Valet parking is also available, though prices are yet to be announced.
To date, there’s been a lot of interest in Chimes from London buyers who want to downsize without sacrificing the lifestyle of city living, and make use of the luxury features here and the high level of service. The general manager and team of ‘Lifehosts’ can do everything from organising deliveries to booking transport, even finding a proper barber.
Currently, a one-bedroom apartment at Chimes costs from £1.1million to purchase (rental price from £5,270 per month), with two-bedroom apartments priced from £1.65million (rental price from £7,906 per month). There’s also a ‘rent to buy’ option.
Viewing are currently by appointment only, from Tuesday to Thursday.
Find out more at lifestory.group.
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