Retirement village details revealed

Blenheim’s sprawling new 150-unit retirement village is gearing up to welcome its first residents.

The Summerset complex on Old Renwick Road is nearing completion, with units going on the market soon.

As interested parties were given a behind-the-scenes peek at the new development on Friday, as the company unveiled more details for the first time.

The first 13 properties will become available for people to move into from the January 15 next year. Licenses to occupy one-bedroom cottages start from $615,000, with two-bedroom villas at $750,000, with three-bedroom villas at $879,000.

A $167 weekly fee is also payable to cover costs of maintenance, exterior cleaning, rates, and village management.

The final stage of development includes the main social hub, urgent care bed space, activity centres, a bar, pool, library, and community hub.

Summerset group sales manager Petria Tullett was at the four information sessions held at the ASB Theatre.

“It was an absolute no-brainer to open our new village in stunning Blenheim.

“We’ve had lots of community engagement including changing the main building to a single story to be more synonymous and sympathetic with the Blenheim surrounds and encouraging the sustainability efforts.

“We hope to have that continue as residents meet each other and engage with one another and the wider community.”

Summerset will be Marlborough’s largest independent living development and managed apartments.

First announced in 2019 and breaking ground in 2021, the Summerset Blenheim village is releasing their new villas as they are completed in building consent groups.

“Our villas and cottages were adapted to what existing and prospective residents wanted like specific linen cupboards, a hobby nook in the garages and developing things for visiting grandchildren to do.”

“We’ve made those tweaks so residents can truly make their place home with space for their own interests,” Petria explains.

“By having accredited Te Whatu Ora hospital-level care on site and being a dementia-friendly retirement operator, moving and living with us is a complete wraparound process as far new residents want– even down to helping with downsizing and managing the real estate market.”

Enquiries have come primarily from the region with 85 per cent of enquiries coming from Marlborough.

But Summerset say residents in other villages are also eyeing up the opportunity to transfer.

The development is also key for Marlborough’s current construction industry – with 40 staff from up to 25 local businesses employed during its current stage which will increase as the main building’s construction gets underway.

Due to the areas’ high water table, futureproofed infrastructure included five kilometres of pipes and a new sewer pump specifically for the village.

“We’re really excited to have a senior only village in such a stunning place and we’re looking forward to meeting our residents and creating a thriving environment,” Petria says.