When it comes to choosing a retirement bungalow – or chalet, or apartment - one key criteria we keep hearing from people is that they want to stay local. Local to their families, local to their friends, local to the places that they know and love. This familiarity and proximity to a support network is absolutely key to continued health and happiness.

But retirement-suitable homes, especially bungalows, are sometimes few and far between when you’re only looking in a very specific town or village, and even if one does come onto the market, it will either be expensive, need updating, or both. Aside from high prices putting some properties out of the reach of the average retiree, not everyone has the time or the money to do any necessary renovations before moving in.

This is why people living locally get priority when it comes to buying our affordable retirement bungalows, chalets and apartments. If you live within the local area of one of our sites, you will be given the opportunity to buy before the properties are opened up to purchasers from outside the area.

As there’s such limited single-storey housing stock – and many older bungalows boasting big plots which get eyed up by small developers, pushing up asking prices – you pay a premium when buying most bungalows on the open market. In fact, we would say that they are out of reach of the average retirement property buyer’s budget.

This is why we’ve developed a unique approach to retirement living, one that allows us to offer stunning properties at prices below the local market value. We have achieved this by designing quality homes that are more efficient: they make better use of space, are cheaper to run, and have the benefits of large gardens without the associated costs and upkeep.

We also make it easier for people to move by offering affordable options such as Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent. Every Lewis & Scott development is created to serve the local community, and that includes ensuring that the associated costs make this a realistic option for those most in need.

In the current climate, it’s also important to consider running costs when assessing the affordability of a new home. Our properties incorporate the latest technology to minimise energy bills and environmental impact, and all have an 'A' Energy Efficiency Rating. Furthermore we limit monthly maintenance charges to below £100 per month, ensuring that our homes remain affordable in the immediate and longer term.