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If you haven’t visited Highlands, the collection of high specification retirement apartments in Main Road, Gidea Park in Romford, yet and you are keen to see if one of these super new energy efficient and inexpensive to run homes could be ideal for you then why not take Great Homes Limited up on its invitation of joining the team and residents for a sherry and mince pie treat?
The company is hosting the festive event at Highlands on Saturday, December 13 between 2pm and 4pm. Members of the team will be on hand to show visitors around Highlands, answer questions and introduce the residents who have already made Highlands their home – plus of course share in the spread of mince pies and sherry.
“The event is primarily a bit of light-hearted fun as we near Christmas, but it will also give anyone interested in perhaps moving to Highlands the chance to see inside for themselves, see the apartments, and talk to us and the residents,” says David Sparks, managing director of the award-winning Great Homes.
Highlands can be found along the main thoroughfare of Gidea Park, close to local shops and services. There’s private car parking right outside. On the day simply pull in, park and head for the residents’ lounge. Along the way you will glimpse the show apartments to your left, the communal hallways that are beautifully decorated and carpeted in a rich red shade, the carved oak staircase that leads to apartments on the upper floors and you will enter the library and lounge. Your sherry will await. When you are ready simply ask for ‘the tour’. You will not be disappointed.
Highlands offers 23 one and two bedroom apartments over three floors. Each is beautifully presented with extra wide private hallways, sizable lounge and dining areas and high specification bathrooms. All the apartments have vanity bathroom furniture and both a bath and a separate shower.
The kitchens, too, ooze quality. They have a soft to the touch ‘peach skin’ effect wood finish, and come complete with a range of integrated Bosch appliances. There’s a washer/dryer, fridge and freezer, hob, extractor, microwave and oven. Atmospheric lighting, quartz stone worktops and complementing floor covering complete the look. In fact, each apartment affords carpeting and floor coverings throughout to really make residents feel at home in no time.
Aimed at buyers of 60 years and over, Highlands has many safety and security features built into its design. There’s a CCTV entryphone system that ensures visitors can be seen before entry is allowed, alarms to all the ground floor apartments and an electric gated driveway. For further peace of mind there’s a house manager who ensures the building runs like clockwork and a 24-hour emergency careline facility provided by specialist management company Peverel. It means help can be called at the press of a button.
Also built into the design of the building are communal features like the lavish gold and cream-themed residents’ lounge and traditional library, the work of local interior designer Sarah Nicholson, and energy efficient systems that generate warmth and reduce water consumption.
Highlands is built to the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and, as such, the installed systems help to reduce the impact on the environment and ensure low annual costs for residents – around 38.5% lower than the costs of a typical four bedroom family home in Gidea Park where residents might have moved from. For example, materials include those chosen for their thermal properties and timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Photovoltaic cells on the roof capture energy to provide power in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
Highlands, which was designed to echo the Arts and Crafts architectural styling of its neighbouring properties in the conservation area of Gidea Park, was named as one of the best retirement developments in Essex in the Daily Mail UK Property Awards 2008. The judges, chaired by Eric Pickles, British Shadow Secretary of State, awarded Great Homes the accolade because of the location, design, eco-friendly innovation and customer care.
Now, the new residents who began moving in just a couple of months ago, are enjoying what life at Highlands can offer – low annual costs, an independent yet secure environment and the chance to meet and make new friends. Share a sherry and mince pie spread with them on Saturday, December 13 and see if Highlands could be right for you too.
For further information on Highlands visit the show suite which is open every Friday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, contact sales agent Porter Glenny on 01708 725000 or visit Great Homes Limited’s website www.greathomes.co.uk. |
