Care home specialist presses ahead with South West scheme

Adlington Retirement Living has received planning approval from Exeter City Council for a new retirement community in the South West.

The retirement community will comprise 65 one, two and three-bedroom retirement apartments for the over 65’s, in a safe and secure environment with landscaped gardens, and extensive communal facilities.

Located to the south of Topsham Road in the highly sought-after residential area of St Leonards, the new community will be surrounded by parks and green spaces with southerly views over the River Exe and easy access to Exeter City Centre.

Formerly the site of the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education, the 1.3-acre plot has been vacant for three years.

The new development will address the significant demand for suitable retirement accommodation within the city, providing older people with a wider choice of housing options.

Since 2008, Adlington Retirement Living has introduced 17 communities across the North West, Yorkshire, Wales, and the Midlands.

Over the past six years, the company has expanded from a team of 30 employees to a workforce of over 250.

With the recent opening of a new community in Kempston, Bedfordshire, and the upcoming launch of its 18th community in Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, in February 2024, Adlington Retirement Living is poised to provide 647 new homes over the next three years.

Dr Ed Gladman, CEO of Adlington Retirement Living, said: “We’re pleased to be launching our first community in the region as part of our strategic growth plan. Our objective is to empower our older generation to live a long, happy and healthy life, supporting their independence, well-being and happiness.

“Integrated Retirement Communities offer people a way to retain their independence for as long as possible, choosing where they want to live with the safety net of care options being readily available if they are needed in the future. They also keep people engaged with wider society which is key to tackling loneliness and isolation in later years.

“There’s an urgent need to address the shortage of appropriate housing for older people and integrated retirement communities are a very undersupplied part of the market.”