A Dream Downsize for Chris and Carl

77-year-old Carl Jakobsen and his wife, Chris, 74 years old, downsized from a large five-bedroom bungalow in rural Lincolnshire to a spacious two-bedroom apartment at Siddington Park - the Cotswolds-based integrated retirement community operated by leading later living specialist, Rangeford Villages. Since moving last November, the couple have found complete peace of mind living in their contemporary apartment at the 12-acre former parkland site.

Back in 2021, the couple started their extensive hunt for the best retirement village across the country.

Carl said: “We don’t have any children and as we got older, we thought it was time to take it upon ourselves to plan for the next phase of our lives, whilst we were still competent enough to do so. Being digitally literate, we went to great lengths, conducting an extensive research on a wide array of retirement villages which we ultimately reduced to around 12, paying them each a visit to get a real feel of it.”

The couple, who once lived in a huge property with a massive garden and lots of space, were reluctant to give up on space and spend their sunset years living in a small and crowded space. Carl’s prosthetic knee also helped to narrow down the search to developments that were equipped with lifts or apartments on the ground floor.

“The visits played a crucial part in our final decision as there were lots of things that we wouldn’t have noticed if we hadn’t visited the developments.  Some of the villages are set in fairly remote areas where you can’t go to a supermarket or eat out without a car. The quality of build is also extremely vital as we noticed some developments still relied on soft wood cladding which means residents might have to bear high costs of maintenance in the future with it not being as durable as brick and mortar.

Hence, on our first visit to Siddington Park, we were surprised by how all our expectations were met with the premium fittings and quality building materials used. Just 1.8 miles away from Cirencester’s town centre, the village’s exceptional location makes it convenient for us to get our groceries with several major supermarkets just a short stroll away. We are confident that our health is in good hands, as other than the care support we receive from the village itself, there’s a reputable doctor’s surgery and dentist in Cirencester where we were all able to join and register with!”

Chris added: “Set in the beautiful capital of the Cotswolds, the design and interior of the Grange apartments are sensitively thought through and are in keeping with the surrounding environment. All blocks have chimneys even without a fireplace and we love the colour combination of the interior, pairing stunning yellow Cotswold stones with pale green windows, light oak solid doors, and lots of glass inviting light in, which have created a welcoming and cosy atmosphere. What’s most interesting is how each apartment block has their own quirk and a design unique to them.”

Cirencester has recently been voted ‘Best Place to Live’ by The Sunday Times, being described as a ‘supremely liveable town’. Situated in a thriving market town surrounded by stunning countryside and beautiful communal landscaped gardens, Siddington Park offers the over 60s a peaceful haven with an excellent array of leisure and wellness amenities on-site for residents to live an active and fulfilling retirement. Offering a collection of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments designed with the needs of the over 60s in mind, the open plan layouts, single floors, lifts to all apartments, modern integrated kitchen, and bathrooms with easy access walk-in showers provide residents the opportunity to live independently, having the freedom to be as relaxed or involved as they wish.

Carl continued: “We pretty much made up our minds that this is the place we want to spend our later lives in when we first visited in June last year and we immediately made a reservation after our trial stay. While the Pavilion - where all the facilities are - is still under construction, the apartment has lived up to all our expectations and we believe in its potential when the village fully opens. We are extremely happy with our spacious two-bedroom ground floor apartment which spans over 1,329 sqft, and having our own front door gives us a complete feeling of privacy and peace.

Besides, our home is well-insulated with energy-efficient features such as underfloor heating and double-glazed windows, keeping our energy bills as low as possible. The acoustic laminated glass windows and vents are also an added bonus, effectively reducing outdoor noise. We truly believe that this will be the best retirement village in the country when everything is complete and we can’t wait to start using the swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa, exercise studio, gym and much more when it’s up and running.”

Boasting extensive gardens and magnificent historically-styled buildings, conveniently located in the picturesque capital of Cotswolds - one of the UK’s highly sought-after residential locations - Siddington Park’s enviable location means a leisurely cultural day out or breath-taking natural beauty are never too far away.