Date: November 2007

PRESENTING THE FUTURE OF CARE FOR THE RETIRED AND ELDERLY AT
RICHMOND PAINSWICK

Richmond Villages, a company that builds and runs retirement villages in the UK, has launched its much-anticipated second phase of development at its village at Painswick in the Cotswolds.  The striking new buildings comprise nursing accommodation and serviced apartments, plus a variety of first class facilities that include a superb restaurant and a wellness spa with swimming pool, treatment rooms and a gymnasium.

Richmond Painswick now offers three retirement living options with exceptional care available throughout.  Keith Cockell, founder and managing director of Richmond Villages, says:  “Our retirement care villages are designed to cater for the varying needs of retired and elderly people.  We recognise that many are still very fit when they retire and simply want somewhere safe and secure to live, with great facilities, and where they can have access to assistance in the future should they need it.  Our village apartments are ideal. 

“Others need help on a daily basis but still want their own space, their own home where they can entertain family and friends; we provide this by offering serviced apartments with hotel-style services which include all meals, beverages, cleaning and laundry, and as much personal care as is needed.

“For those who require 24-hour nursing care, we have a high quality nursing home.  With just 24 beds our specialist staff can offer an exceptional level of dedicated personal care 24 hours a day.

“We believe these three living options, with care available to everyone along with excellent facilities, represent a dramatically different alternative to conventional sheltered housing or care homes and are the future of retirement living in the UK.”

Richmond Painswick comprises a handsome collection of Cotswold stone properties built to blend beautifully with the local architecture in the pretty village of Painswick.

The first phase of 18 independent village apartments, each with two or three bedrooms, a spacious living/dining room, kitchen and bathroom, was completed in 2006.  Prices start at around £429,000, with a service charge of £80 per week per property (see note below).  All the more independent village apartments are now sold and occupied and there is a waiting list.

The 38 attractive serviced apartments at Painswick each have either one or two bedrooms with en suite, a sitting room and galley kitchen.  Prices start from £225,000.  The serviced apartment fee - which includes all beverages, meals either delivered to your room or taken in the restaurant, daily maid service and laundry - is £318 per week (based on one person), and there is a service charge of £80 per week per property.

The care home bedrooms are charged on a weekly fee basis.

Richmond Villages employs its own on-site domiciliary care and nursing staff, and the exceptional care provided is evident at every turn throughout the village.  By employing its own staff, Richmond Villages can be sure residents not only receive the best care, but also have the opportunity to make friends with staff who are dedicated long-term members of the community.

The facilities at Richmond Painswick are outstanding.  The newly-opened buildings include a restaurant that is on a par with a five star hotel; an elegant drawing room; a smart library that has been set up and is run by residents of Richmond Painswick; a wellness spa with three treatment rooms, a large swimming pool, sauna, steam room, a fully-equipped gymnasium and a fitness/dance studio; a rooftop garden, a café, a shop and a hairdressing salon.  There is also a wide variety of clubs and activities for all in the village to enjoy.

Keith adds:  “We are incredibly proud of Richmond Painswick.  The vision has become reality with the village already a wonderfully vibrant place to live.  We are also delighted that people from the local area are coming into the village to use our restaurant and facilities, as we believe retirement villages should not be exclusive, rather they should be an integral part of the local community.”

Richmond Painswick is located in Stroud Road, Painswick, Gloucestershire, GL6 6UL.  The company has other villages in Nantwich, Coventry and Northampton, with several other locations at the consultation or planning stage.

For further information about Richmond Villages, please visit www.richmond-villages.com or telephone 0845 607 6405.

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Notes to editors:

More Richmond Villages in the pipeline:
A Richmond Villages development is currently under construction in Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire, and building of a Village at Torquay is expected to start in the Spring of 2008  Outline planning permission has been granted for villages in Aston Upon Trent, Macclesfield and Witney.  Other villages currently going through the planning process include one in Warwick and another in Wood Norton, Evesham.

The service charge
The service charge covers ground maintenance, external property maintenance, membership of the Wellness Spa, a daily mini-bus service to and from shops and events, buildings insurance, window cleaning, administration and security.

Resale
Richmond Villages will market a property that is no longer required and will carry out views on behalf of the vendor.  Ultimately, the vendor agrees the sale price with Richmond Villages.

A sales reassignment fee of between 6% and 10% of the resale price is payable, which is normal practice in most retirement villages.  The reassignment fee is levied in order to enable Richmond Villages to cover the capital costs of providing the communal facilities and any major repairs or additions over time.  It should not be confused with the service charge, which covers the costs of service provision and routine maintenance to communal facilities.  The fee also covers the agency services, which Richmond Villages provides in reselling the property on the clients’ behalf including any estate agents costs incurred.  The client or beneficiaries decide on the asking price and whether offers are acceptable.  Clients are free to appoint a second agent at their cost.

• To receive this release via e-mail, please contact: claire.smith@lawsonclarke.co.uk
• To obtain case studies via the Internet, please visit the LawsonClarke on-line press centre at: www.lawsonclarke.com

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