First look at new retirement community

A new £20m integrated retirement community is set for its latest milestone this month.

Sundew Court in Newport, which is being developed by IRC specialists Untold Living and built by contractors McPhillips, will be a purpose-built independent retirement community, featuring an on site restaurant, licensed bar, library, hairdressing salon, a multi-function room and an on site care team.

Construction began on the development, which is made up of 61 apartments and 16 bungalows, in Autumn of 2024, and now McPhillips, who have been working with architects Gaunt Francis, are set to hand over the first phase of the project to Untold.

Completion of the first phase includes approximately 40 apartments and all the social facilities, as well as the offices, and Untold will take possession of the new buildings this month.

New CGI images have revealed what the facilities in Sundew will look like with Untold aiming to establish a leading benchmark for retirement living in the region, bringing together high-end hospitality, independent living with a unique and refreshing culture.

General manager Adrian Pickard is excited to see the project ramping up ahead of the first residents being welcomed into their new neighbourhood.

“It has been fantastic to see the progress being made on the site, and we’re excited about getting closer to the day when we can welcome our first residents to Sundew Court.

“The upcoming milestone is significant not just for us, but more importantly for our new residents who will be coming to enjoy a new and exciting chapter with us.

“It is going to be a new beginning for them and for us. Prospective buyers, many of whom have already met each other and formed friendships, have been able to see in person the environment we are offering here when we opened our show bungalows and show apartments.

“Now we’re delighted to be able to show anyone who is interested, the high quality facilities that are available to everyone in our new community. What we’re clear on is that this is not a care home and certainly does not feel like one. What residents at our other IRC in Wiltshire say, is that it feels more like a hotel than a care home, but at a fraction of the cost."

Chris Walker, projects director for McPhillips, said: “Reaching this milestone is a genuinely proud moment for everyone at McPhillips who has worked on Sundew Court. From the outset we could see what this development would mean for Newport and seeing that vision now become reality – with the quality of the apartments, bungalows and communal facilities all speaking for themselves – is tremendously satisfying."