For those who have had a career in London, the most stressful of UK cities, retirement is the time to unwind from decades of pressure and angst.[1]
Research shows that a journey to work of more than 20 minutes leaves commuters susceptible to chronic stress, with this level of stress rising with the size of the city.
At Durrants Village, Faygate, near Horsham, former trade professional Robert Voyce, 89, has chosen to downsize to a three-bedroom cottage.
Robert previously held a senior role as deputy head of the overseas department of The London Chamber of Commerce, spending much of his time visiting Africa and the Middle East to help to develop trade relationships.
After a successful career, he joined the British Institute of Management, as southern regional manager, to encourage and promote the art and science of management.
Robert retired at 59, enjoying the early years of his retirement at his village house in Ashtead, Surrey. But following the death of his wife six years ago, he decided to downsize and relocated to Durrants Village in August 2016.
Robert comments: “Having commuted into London from my home in Surrey for the entirety of my career, it was certainly a pleasure to retire, with the house in Ashtead providing the ideal home for the first years of my more relaxed lifestyle.
“However, the house was too large for one person and the garden required a lot of maintenance. My new three-bedroom cottage at Durrants Village has proven to be the perfect choice for me.
“It was important that I would be able to keep the furniture from my previous home and this has not been a problem at all; there is plenty of space in my new cottage.
“I use the third bedroom downstairs as a dining room and the second bedroom is perfect for guests, with my niece and her husband visiting regularly. The location is ideal for me as it is only a short drive from my previous home, so it is easy to visit my rugby club, the Old Freemens.”
Durrants Village, developed by Renaissance Villages, a wholly owned subsidiary of Helical plc, is a luxury retirement community situated in 30 acres of private parkland in the hamlet of Faygate, near Horsham, West Sussex.
There will be a total of 173 properties, ranging from two-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom cottages. All properties benefit from access to the prestigious residents’ clubhouse, offering a superb range of country club style facilities including a bar, library, restaurant and leisure complex.
Robert comments: “Although I have only been here a short time, I have already settled in well and it is a pleasure to live in a community of like-minded neighbours.
“I have always enjoyed sport and I have taken advantage of the on-site swimming pool and plan to go to the weekly snooker club in the clubhouse. I loved spending time in the garden at my previous house, so it has been a definite advantage to have the patio and garden room in my new home.”
William Parry, head of development at Renaissance Villages, comments: “A principal objective of our home designs is to ensure that our buyers have enough space to downsize comfortably, without having to purchase a whole set of new furniture on a smaller scale. 
“Our apartments and cottages are built to spacious dimensions, with plenty of storage space to allow for this. With the clubhouse, we also provide luxury leisure and social facilities that allow our residents to make the most of their retirement. The strength of the community already established here is testament to how much our residents enjoy their lives at Durrants Village.”
The current phase of cottages at Durrants Village is sold out, with cottages in the next phase to start from £500,000. Available two bedroom apartments start from £299,950.
For more information call 01293 851 935 or visit Durrants Village
[1] BBC News
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