SALLY MORTON, ENJOYING AN ACTIVE, INDEPENDENT AND RELAXED LIFESTYLE AT BEECHCROFT’S PINEWOOD PLACE, WINDSOR

We all have different reasons for moving home – and particularly for downsizing – but, for Mrs Sally Morton, the desire for an easier, more relaxed, lifestyle led her to Beechcroft’s Pinewood Place in Windsor.

“I was living in a three-bedroom house with a garden and garage, when I decided to move home,” explains Mrs Morton. “It had been our family home for 33 years but when I was widowed, nearly six years ago, all the maintenance fell to me. I was trying to cope with the garden, cutting the grass and the hedges, the central heating had never been replaced, water was coming into the kitchen and, at the end of the summer, I returned from holiday to find that my boiler had broken down. It was all too much and  I’d simply had enough.”

“I wanted to stay in Windsor, close to my son and his family, but when I looked around there was nothing suitable. I looked at one very large retirement development but that was out of my price bracket and other places I viewed were not really suitable for an active, independent, retired person like me. I may be in my 70s but I keep myself fit, going to three exercise classes a week, have a busy social life and I look after my grandchildren – picking them up from school every Thursday and making their tea.”

“Last year,  I noticed an advertisement for Beechcroft’s Pinewood Place in Windsor. It looked amazing and, surprisingly, there were some apartments within my budget. The development is in an area I know well – it’s not far from my former home – and so I went to view the apartments.”

As Mrs Morton discovered, Pinewood Place is an exclusive, gated, development of just 29 elegant two and three-bedroom houses and apartments, designed for the over 55s and located on Hatch Lane, close to Windsor town centre. These spacious, light-filled, new homes feature terraces, balconies, private gardens or a combination of these along with allocated parking and electric car charging facilities. An Estate Manager is on hand to maintain the communal areas, the beautifully landscaped communal gardens and private gardens so that home owners, like Mrs Morton, can really relax into retirement.

“ As soon as I viewed one of the two-bedroom apartments, I knew straight away that I wanted to buy it,” continues Mrs Morton. “I was taken aback by the size of the large balcony. I thought I’d be able to put my patio furniture outside along with some planters. I liked the apartment’s lovely wide hall, the generously sized bathroom with a shower and the lift access. The living space is also open-plan living space – and both my children have open plan living in their own homes – I could really imagine myself living there.”

“My family came to see the apartment and thought it was wonderful – everyone agreed that moving to Pinewood Place would be the best thing for me.”  

“Helen, Beechcroft’s sales advisor, was incredibly helpful throughout the buying process and during the move. Moving is always traumatic but my family, including my sister and brother-in-law lent a hand and I moved in on the very last day of January. Within a few weeks I had settled in and I am incredibly happy to be here.”

“All the neighbours, in both the houses and apartments at Pinewood Place, are very friendly – I’ve had tea with one of my neighbours and  I’m looking forward to meeting more people and being part of the community.”

“The location is ideal. I go to Windsor Leisure Centre where I do three different fitness classes every week and afterwards I have coffee with an amazing group of women. I’m nearer my son and his family so it’s easy for me to look after the grandchildren when needed. Of course, you have to spend a year in a property to find out how much less it is to run a new home rather than an old one but I am expecting substantial energy savings and my water bill will certainly be less because I no longer have a large garden to water.”

If, like Mrs Morton, you’re looking to relax into retirement or for a beautifully designed home that offers energy efficiency and less maintenance, take a look at Pinewood Place, where, currently,  four  two bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom apartment remain available. Prices start from £565,000 for a two bedroom, first floor apartment with a large, private balcony. The luxurious principal bedroom suite features a dressing area lined with fitted wardrobes and there’s an en-suite bathroom with a  separate shower. For further information, please contact the sales team at Pinewood Place on 01753-963095 or visit the website – www.beechcroft.co.uk