The partners have unveiled plans for their first scheme a new six acre retirement village of 65 new homes in Lower Shiplake to the north east of Reading.

Located off the A4155 Henley-on-Thames to Reading road, the new £40m development in Lower Shiplake is designed by Nick Baker Architects.

The assisted living retirement community will consist of one and two bedroom apartments, cottages and penthouse style homes all with either balconies, terraces or private gardens, set in landscaped communal gardens and grounds.

O’Shea will be the main contractor for the new retirement village with construction works set to commence later this year with the first properties being available to purchase in 2022.

Other sites for villages of up 150 homes are being targeted in Tunbridge Wells, Bournemouth, York, Worthing and Brighton. As a broad guide, the new homes will typically be priced from around £400,000 up to circa £900,000.

Stephen Conway, Executive Chairman of Galliard Homes, said: “Our partnership aims to help solve the significant undersupply of purpose-built premium retirement accommodation in the UK, with just 1% of the UK’s population living in designated retirement villages, compared to 17% of Americans and 13% of Australians.

“By 2050 the UK retirement population is set to double and there needs to be new custom-designed housing with services to meet this demand.”