Rangeford Villages Acquire Site in West Sussex for a New Integrated Retirement Community

Rangeford Villages, the award-winning later living provider and operator, has announced that it has successfully completed contracts to purchase an Integrated Retirement Community (IRC) parcel of land from Vistry Group. The acquisition follows Welbeck’s successful application for outline planning permission for a wider mixed-use residential community and subsequent purchase of the site in East Grinstead, West Sussex by Vistry  on the 23^rd Dec 2025.”

Rangeford is set to submit a Reserved Matters application by the end of July 2026, with a decision expected by the end of the calendar year. Subject to planning consent, Rangeford expects to develop 150 properties, comprising a mixture of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, 2-, and 3-bedroom bungalows and a collection of 3-bedroom cottages, with construction work expected to commence in Q4 2027.

In keeping with Rangeford’s full-service IRC model, the scheme will also include a wealth of internal and external health and wellbeing supporting amenities for owners and the public to enjoy. This includes a full-service central facility building, comprising a restaurant and bar; a fully equipped gym; health studio; a spa including a swimming pool, sauna and steam room; hair salon, nail bar, treatment rooms; craft room, owners’ lounge, and a private dining room.

Extensive external amenities will comprise expertly landscaped communal gardens with a village green, croquet lawn, boule court, raised beds, a home grown ‘Orchard Walk’ with a variety of fruit trees, providing access to the central facilities, and a large feature pond, providing widespread biodiversity enhancement.

Owners will also have access to a mixed-use neighbourhood centre and for lovers of outdoor pursuits, the surrounding area has a wealth of walking paths, cycling routes as well as the new proposed 42-hectare country park, that will be delivered as part of the wider masterplan.

Discreet, personalised 24-hour care and support services will also be available onsite through the village’s CQC registered domiciliary agency, Rangeford Care, solely dedicated to providing custom care packages for any owners who may need extra support.

Howard Nankivell, CEO of Rangeford Villages, commented: “Once again, this acquisition, the seventh site secured by Rangeford, represents another step in Rangeford’s ambitious growth journey to address the shortage of senior housing across the UK by developing high quality, service-led integrated retirement communities. The development will I am sure, be a welcome addition to the local community, as well as boosting the local economy with significant job creation both during the construction phase and once the village is fully operational.” 

Doug Jones, Land and Planning Director of Rangeford Villages, continued: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to secure yet another high-quality site. We look forward to working with the wider consultancy team to bring the exciting plans to life, and to introduce Rangeford’s highly coveted lifestyle-focused living to the over-60 community in and around East Grinstead.”

As with previous developments, Rangeford Villages has teamed up with Octopus Capital, part of Octopus Investments and a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor for the project. Once completed, the IRC will be operated by Rangeford Villages and is expected to employ up to 40 members of staff and be home to 225 owners, creating a thriving, supportive community which will boost the local economy.

Kevin Beirne, Head of Retirement at Octopus Capital, commented: “This further investment in Rangeford is testament to the progress they have made in delivering retirement communities of the highest quality, with a wide customer appeal underpinning our returns.”

The acquisition of the East Grinstead site further expands Rangeford’s national footprint, which currently consists of six retirement villages across the UK: Wadswick Green in Wiltshire, Mickle Hill in North Yorkshire, Siddington Park in Cirencester, Homewood Grove in Chertsey, Strawberry Fields in Cambridgeshire, and Bramston Park at the Oakley Hall Estate, Hampshire.

East Grinstead, which is conveniently situated 30 miles south of London, is well connected by rail and road with easy access to the M23, M25, and A22. Regular train services connect East Grinstead with London Victoria in just over an hour.