Read more corporate and customer messages from Nick Sanderson.
As we reach the end of the year it’s right to look back on the events of 2021, but also to consider what 2022 has in store. And it’s a year I look forward to with great anticipation.
Our mission has always been to transform the way people live in retirement and in 2022, with the opening of our new mid-market proposition, Mayfield Villages, we will be able to do this for more people.
Mayfield Watford is the very first village in our new endeavour, based on the successes and learnings from our 25 years of building and operating Audley Villages around the country. Just minutes from the centre of Watford and under an hour from London, our first property owners will be moving in through the summer and I for one, can’t wait to welcome them to the village.
And this isn’t the only opening we have scheduled for 2022 – it is set to be a busy year.
Alongside Mayfield Watford, we’ll be opening three new Audley Villages - Sunningdale Park in Berkshire, Fairmile in Cobham and Wycliffe Park in Buckinghamshire. Collectively these will bring over 500 new retirement living properties to the market, at a time when we know many people are looking at how and where they want to live as they get older.
This is a true sign of the strength and demand in our sector. 2021 was a year when the potential of the retirement living sector was truly recognised. We announced new investment partners including leading firms like BlackRock and Royal London. And hand in hand with these new partners, came acknowledgement from the Government about the vital role that specialist retirement living plays in the wider social care and housing mix. Both in the publication of the social care white paper but also closer to home, in the form of a loan from the government-backed housing agency, Homes England.
I firmly believe that 2022 will see this momentum increase, with more investment and government-led change which enables us to give people the options they want and need.
And it’s not all about more investment. There are some regulatory changes that we’re likely to see the Government make in 2022 which enable providers of Integrated Retirement Communities, like Audley and Mayfield, to build more, fast. This all means a very exciting and busy year ahead.
I think there is a real opportunity to seize in 2022 and we, along with the team at ARCO, will be making sure that our sector helps to deliver real change.
Away from our more corporate news, it’s impossible to look ahead to 2022 without acknowledging both our property owners and teams at the villages which make Audley the success it is. While the future might feel a little uncertain again, I know the teams are entering into the New Year with an optimism and energy like no other.
I’ve heard incredible stories from the villages through the last twelve months and I have no doubt that there will be more to come in 2022.
It’s getting to the villages, meeting more owners, seeing the team and hearing the news and updates from our villages that I really look forward to and I can’t wait to welcome more owners, and visitors, to our villages through 2022.
I think there is a real opportunity to seize in 2022 and we, along with the team at ARCO, will be making sure that our sector helps to deliver real change.
