Moving to a new area to be close to family can be a daunting prospect for retired people. However, thanks to her daughter, one mother discovered the perfect new home at Willow Grange, a David Wilson Retirement Homes development in Wantage.
Rita Harrell was based in Enfield, North London, and had spent years looking for a suitable home near Newbury, where daughter Lynn was living. Now, Rita has just moved into a brand new one-bedroom apartment at Willow Grange after taking advantage of the part exchange option and both mother and daughter are delighted.
“Mum had been considering moving for eight years and we looked at all sorts of potential homes within a 15 to 20 mile radius of Newbury,” explained Lynn Harrell, an events organiser. “Nothing was quite right and then I saw the advertisement for Willow Grange. I visited the development and realised that it ‘ticked all the boxes’ and was just what we were looking for.
“Mum had lived in a cul-de-sac and it was a challenge to find somewhere quiet but close to amenities,” she continued. “Her new flat is in a lovely location overlooking a brook, but it’s also just a stone’s throw from the local Sainsbury and Waitrose and not far from the high street, so she can get some shopping. Mum didn’t want to use community laundering facilities and her apartment comes with a washer/dryer, and there’s also a 24-hour care line system.”
Mrs Harrell took advantage of the developer’s part exchange scheme, which made her move almost completely trouble free.
“In today’s economic climate, I don’t think Mum could have moved any other way,” Lynn added. “The part exchange deal ensured an agreed price and a guaranteed buyer, so it was perfect.
“Willow Grange is a lovely development, with a residents’ lounge and a guest suite, and I’m sure there will be a thriving community there as more and more residents move in. I know Mum is very happy, and I certainly have more peace of mind knowing that she is in a secure environment where she can still enjoy some independence,” Lynn concluded.
Louise Ware, Sales Director, added: “We have a number of new residents relocating to be near their families and Willow Grange offers the ideal mix of independence, companionship and security. As an added bonus, our part exchange scheme allows our buyers to move with as little fuss as possible.”
Willow Grange offers a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments with prices starting from just £139,950 for a one-bedroom home and from £219,995 for a two-bedroom property. Designed specifically for the over 55s, the development is set in landscaped grounds and has a video entry door system.
The market town of Wantage is located just 70 miles from London and 13 miles from the spires of Oxford, and enjoys easy access to motorway and railway networks as well as international airports. The town is surrounded by the glorious countryside of the Vale of the White Horse, with its famous 3,000 year old Uffington Horse at White Horse Hill.
The retired community is well catered for and local associations include the Lions Club, Rotary Club, WI, and University of the Third Age (UTA). A month long festival of music and arts is held in June and July and there is a Dickensian Evening before Christmas, when shops open late and the Town Mayor and Town Crier lead the townspeople and visitors around the town. There are home library services and free newspaper tapes for blind and partially sighted people.
For those wanting some exercise, Wantage Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, badminton and squash courts, cricket nets, gymnastics equipment and fitness/cholesterol testing services. Other sports clubs include Wantage Bowling Club and Frilford Heath, Drayton Park and Carswell Golf Clubs.