The Folds, Romiley, wins silver in national award ceremony

Award-winning retirement living

Adlington Retirement Living has received a building industry ‘Oscar’ for its new development in Romiley, near Stockport. The Folds won the Silver Award for Best Retirement Development in the UK at the WhatHouse? Awards 2020, the UK housebuilding’s most prestigious event.

This is the fourth retirement development from Adlington to have received the acolade in the last five years. The Bridges in Macclesfield won the Silver Award in 2019, Adlington House in Otley won the Gold Award in 2017 and Adlington House in Portishead won the Bronze Award in 2015.

The awards are hotly contested, attracting entries from retirement developments up and down the country, so what is it that makes ours a little bit special?

The view from the judges

For all of our award-winning developments, the judges have mentioned the idyllic locations, often combining pretty, waterside settings with stunning countryside views and easy access to bustling market towns with local shops and amenities.

They notice the beautiful landscaped gardens, with raised flower beds where Homeowners “can get their hands dirty with a bit of gardening whenever they wish, go for a stroll or just sit and relax” and the fact that most of our apartments have their own private balcony or patio.

They have always been impressed by our interiors, highlighting that the standard of interior specification is excellent:  “the interior has been thoughtfully designed to blend a contemporary feel with understated elegance and includes a table-service restaurant, lounge and separate coffee lounge, therapy suite, activities/fitness studio and hairdressing salon.”

They recognise the importance of the personal touch from the team, who provide round the clock support, 365 days a year, along with an emergency call system to give Homeowners and their families peace of mind. And the flexibile personal care provision that can accommodate each homeowner’s needs.

Most of all, they recognise the fresh approach to retirement living: “Chatting to residents over lunch in the restaurant or in the homeowner’s lounge and the happy ambience of the building is tangible – a clear and deep community spirit.”

We thought we would dig a little deeper and ask some of our Homeowners what they think makes Adlington Retirement Living so good.

Discovering a community with a zest for life

There’s a thriving community offering new friendships, social occasions and safe activities on your doorstep that you can dip into whenever the mood takes you.

“We wanted to know what sort of community we would come to. We found out about Adlington and what activities went on and we actually went to look at some other developments but we preferred Adlington. We know they’re the best now! Everything’s good here.” John & Marcia, The Cottons

“I think some people have a perception of retirement communities, sitting around and doing nothing. That couldn’t be further from the truth here. Before the lockdown I went to Physiofit every week and I had just started chair yoga. A group of us would sometimes go out for lunch at a local restaurant. I go to the hair dressing salon every week. I’ve made some really good friends here.” Joyce, The Chimes

“We’ve eaten in the restaurant several times, either when we’ve had people over for lunch (before the pandemic) or just the two of us. When we first moved in we had our old neighbours over for lunch and friends over for coffee. We had a couple of drinks with our nextdoor neighbours too. Everyone here is very friendly and very nice.” Eddie & Mabel, The Bridges

And when you want to spend some quiet time in your own company, you have a beautiful, self-contained apartment that you can retreat to.

“I actually love it. I feel like I’m on my holidays!” Marcia, The Cottons

Alexandra Johnson, Sales and Marketing Director for Adlington Retirement Living, explains: “We aim to promote a warm and welcoming environment that preserves independence and enhances the lifestyle of discerning homeowners.”

Owning your own Five Star apartment

The apartments have been designed with later life in mind and every detail, from the height of the door handles to the layout of the bathroom has been considered to make everyday life safer, simpler and more comfortable for Homeowners.

“I like the big rooms. When I came to have a look, I quickly decided what I wanted to do.” Hannah, The Folds in Romiley

Each apartment is designed with a level of attention to detail that extends to the quality of the fixtures and fittings, the modern fabrics and the handy appliances that are hand-picked for each kitchen.

“Since we moved in, we’ve enjoyed buying a bit more modern furniture for our apartment. We’ve always been very traditional in the past, so it’s been nice to change our style.” Eddie & Mabel, The Bridges

Alexandra Johnson explains: “We are committed to creating a safe and secure environment, without compromising on style and elegance.”

“I’ve got a three-bedroom apartment. The biggest is the main bedroom and two of the rooms I’ve converted into a study and a library. My lounge has an eight-seater suite and it’s positioned well in relation to the kitchen so I can ‘dine and wine’. I have a beautiful wrap-around balcony and it’s truly wonderful. The apartment, as far as I’m concerned is the best apartment in the whole of Southport and Churchtown. It’s absolutely marvellous. It’s really luxurious.

“I’m looking forward to having all of my children and grandchildren come for a meal in the restaurant here at The Sailings. I would be delighted to take them all for dinner at their Grandad’s Five Star hotel. That’s what we refer to it as! The whole operation here is wonderful.” Jim, The Sailings  

Stunning views, outdoor spaces and fresh air

Many of our apartments are available with their own private patio or balcony and all of our developments have beautiful, landscaped gardens offering quiet corners, a summer house, and relaxing spaces to watch the world go by.

“I’ve got a big garden to enjoy here but I don’t have to look after it! I’ve got a few pots out there on my patio and then I can see the nice garden and I haven’t had to do it.” Rona, The Sailings

The extensive, leafy gardens are maintained by an expert team of gardeners, so you can do as much or as little gardening as you want to.

“We enjoy gardening. John has a small allotment in the gardens here and has managed to grow some carrots, potatoes and beetroot. We have two pots on our patio and we’ve just put some new bulbs in them so we’re waiting for them to come through now. We also have a garden on either side of our patio that’s our own, and then the main Adlington gardens are beautiful. They’re well looked after. The gardeners come and tend to them and we have a lawn, quite a large one, in front of us and they come every two to three weeks and cut the grass.” John & Marcia, The Cottons

Help on hand whenever you need it

In recent times many of our Homeowners have told us how much it has helped to have such a strong sense of community and a friendly management team on site to provide advice, assistance and moral support.

“It’s been nice to have the company of the staff and they’ve taken care of all my needs, even doing some shopping. It’s given my son peace of mind too, as he lives in Yorkshire.” Doris, The Cottons in Ramsbottom

“It’s much better here than it would have been in our previous home in lockdown.” John and Marcia, The Cottons

Alexandra Johnson explains: “During the lockdowns, our on-site teams have showed their team spirit, working together and going the extra mile to look after our Homeowners. Although our elegant restaurants had to temporarily close for a period of time, our catering teams offered the same high standard of freshly-prepared, delicious lunchtime meals and delivered them directly to our Homeowners’ front doors, always maintaining social distancing and sanitising trays between deliveries. Our team members went shopping and collected prescriptions for our Homeowners and we created ‘pop-up shops’ at each development to provide a safe and easy way to pick up everyday essentials.”

“All the girls here have told me if I need anything at all, I’ve only got to say. Moving here is the best thing I’ve done because I can talk to people, I can get out and about or go for a walk around the garden if I want to. I love it here.” Audrey, The Folds

A smart approach to care

One of the aspects that appeals to many of our Homeowners is the fact that optional, personal care is available as and when it is needed, for as long as it is needed. So, if you have an accident and need some additional support for a short time, it’s available, or if you need more long-term support, that’s available too.

“I’ve got the button to press if there’s a problem, which is very good. I’ve had to use it once, so it’s very good to know there’s somebody there. I mean, my daughters are very good, they come all the time but when you’re on your own, it’s nice to know that there’s somebody at hand if you’ve got a problem.” Rona, The Sailings

Alexandra Johnson explains: “We offer a personal approach to care to ensure that you receive just the right amount to maintain your independence, allowing you to enjoy your retirement to the full.

“Whatever your needs, the 24-hour on-site staff are there to look out for your wellbeing, and arrange tailored personal care, if required – all of which enables you to maintain your quality of life. It’s completely flexible, so should you find that your requirements change in the future, the discreet care team will be able to accommodate and support you.”

The 24-hour emergency call system not only covers each private apartment but the entire building and gardens, for added peace of mind.

A significant number of retired doctors have chosen an Adlington Retirement Living apartment for their own future, illustrating the high regard in which our concept is held by health professionals. In fact, at one of our recent developments 13 retired doctors each bought an apartment.

Find out more

With spacious, superbly appointed apartments and a unique approach to independent living, our Homeowners don’t have to compromise on their independence, privacy or social life.

Come and see for yourself by booking a private tour. Find out more about our award winning Adlington lifestyle and have a look around our beautiful show apartments to imagine the warm, safe and maintenance free future you can enjoy.