RETIREMENT LIVING PROJECT REPORT


From cowshed to retirement community


A project in the affl uent Surrey town of Godalming has transformed a listed cow shed as part of a group of vibrant apartments. Mark Smulian explores how Birchgrove is redefi ning retirement living with a strong sense of community in a fl exible build-to-rent model.


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t may be a surprising move to invite retired people to live in a former cow shed, but this historic listed structure forms part of the new build-to-rent (BTR) apartments on offer at Birchgrove’s fi fth assisted living development, in Godalming, Surrey.


The cows have long since vacated the building, but it is rade  listed and so had to be preserved when Birchgrove bought the 1.02 acres site for redevelopment as Pepperpot House, its latest assisted living facility.


Unlike most retirement accommodation, here apartments are rented rather than sold, an approach which Birchgrove says offers retired people a more fl eible and economic way of accessing accommodation where they can call on help when needed. Although Pepperpot House is not a care home, it comes


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complete with a 24-hour concierge service. Birchgrove judged the site a sound choice as it is near Godalming high street – and its location also offered the prospect of an accessible fl at roof to take advantage of commanding views over the Surrey countryside. The site was also – apart from the cow shed – a brownfi eld vacant since 2017 that required only the demolition of a former warehouse used by the locally well-known Mole Country Stores agricultural business. Birchgrove acquired the site in 2020.


Development manager Tom Webb explains the provenance further: “The old cow shed building dates back to the 17th century, and has been converted to two one-bed apartments, retaining some listed features though the exterior is unchanged.” The main building is of concrete frame, with bricks selected to


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