Rural retreat is ripe for retirement

28 February 05

When many people head towards retirement, they’re looking to take it easy. But this isn’t the case for Notts couple Rita Bown and Nigel Stevenson. As successful business people, they may be giving up life in the fast lane, but they’re determined to stay active and not get bored.

While many would-be retirees choose to down-size to a smaller house, Rita and Nigel have opted to up-size to ensure that retirement equals activity. “I’ve lived in the local area for some time,” says Rita, the owner of a designer children’s wear shop in Nottingham. “I’m happy with where I live, but we were concerned that we might get bored after we retired. As a result, we’ve been looking for a bigger challenge. One answer was to buy a plot of land and build a new house. But the idea never really appealed to me.”

The answer to Rita and Nigel’s retirement concerns came when they heard about a barn conversion taking place at Old Bull Farm, Sutton Bonington. “I think it would be pretty true to say that up until we visited Sutton Bonington, I really had to twist Rita’s arm to get her to view prospective developments,” jokes Nigel, the director of a painting and decorating company. “This development was different, though.” Rita agrees: “I like the local area – and already know it well. The setting is perfect with lovely gardens and fields all around. I always wanted a bigger kitchen and hall, and our house in Old Bull Farm fits the bill completely. We can see there is plenty of scope for us to put something of our personality into our new home and garden, which should keep us occupied for a long time!”

As more people in the East Midlands start planning for their retirement, time management to avoid boredom becomes a very real issue. “Many people seem to look forward to the day they can stop waking up to the alarm clock,” says Ian Mackenzie, sales manager, Fairgrove Homes. “But after a month of so of retirement, they discover that the lack of a routine can be quite boring if they don’t have a hobby. Nottinghamshire is a great place to live and it’s understandable that most people want to continue to live in the area after they’ve stopped working. Barn conversions seem to offer the best of both worlds: modern interiors provide the opportunity for owners to stamp their personality on a home that already has plenty of character. Meanwhile, large gardens give home owners the chance to really get their teeth into some exciting gardening projects.”

About Fairgrove Homes
Fairgrove Homes is a locally owned business that prides itself on building individual homes of character. The company combines quality with small developments in desirable locations to meet customers’ needs. Fairgrove Homes’ current development sites include: Olders Valley in Woodville; Old School Woods in Shipley Park, and Lake Gardens in Loscoe, Derbyshire. The Old Bull Farm in Sutton Bonington, and Eakring Road in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Further new developments are situated at Orton Fields, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire.

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