Earlier this year, Inspired Villages also announced that it would be delivering the UK’s first two operationally net-zero retirement communities – Millfield Green, Bedfordshire, and Ampfield Meadows, Hampshire. The village in Horndean will support the environment through renewable energy generation, on-site photovoltaics, EV-charging, improved building fabric and insulation, mechanical heat vent recovery units and air-source heat pump technology.
The company receives financial backing from a joint venture partnership between NatWest Group Pension Fund and Legal & General, which will see its portfolio grow to a total of 34 villages over the next decade. With approximately 12.4 million people aged over 65 in the UK coupled with just 78,000 housing with care units, Inspired is committed to addressing this severe shortage of suitable property for the nation’s older generations. By 2040, the number of over 65s living in the UK is projected to reach 18 million.
Work at the nine-acre Horndean site is set to begin in 2022, pending approval of a reserved matters application and will see Inspired Villages work in partnership with Highwood Group – one of the south coast’s leading developers.
The development will provide 120 stylish, age-appropriate apartments, with a wellbeing-focussed village centre including a swimming pool, exercise studio, gym, library, craft room, restaurant, bar/café, and a cinema room, all designed to provide residents with outstanding quality of life well into retirement. Members of the local community in Horndean will also have access to the facilities on a membership basis, adding a level of vibrancy to the village.
Jamie Bunce, CEO of Inspired Villages, said: “Our recent land purchase for our Horndean community is extremely exciting for us and a vital step in both our portfolio expansion and continued commitments towards net-zero, creating a village with clear environmental benefits as we progress towards a carbon-free future.
He added: “We know there is a growing need for age-appropriate homes in Hampshire, and this recent purchase and achieved outline planning permission from the council allows us to effectively supply this demand and support the physical and mental wellbeing of older people in the area. The project will allow us to provide suitable, safe, secure and stimulating environments for retirees, helping them live healthy, independent lives for longer.”