Retirement Villages Group (RVG) has been given the green light to start construction on the site of its new later living community in West Malling, Kent. The development, which recently won the Homes England Exemplar Award at the prestigious Housing Design Awards, will be the fourth retirement community in RVG’s Thrive Living Collection. Thrive Living’s mission is to create great living spaces to support positive, healthy lifestyles for people over 65, who want an active, rewarding, and purposeful life, connected to thriving local communities.
RVG and Virgin Money’s Health and Social Care Team have agreed a deal for a new £37 million development facility to part finance the West Malling project. Construction work is due to commence shortly, and the development is planned to open in Summer 2026, alongside RVG’s third Thrive community at nearby Tunbridge Wells.
The West Malling site will contain 142 homes, with a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and terraced cottages, all featuring award-winning design inspired by nearby Georgian buildings. The community will also be home to easily accessible and high-quality resident amenities, including a wellness centre, gym, bar and restaurant.
Thrive Living developments are located at the heart of towns or close to existing communities. This allows over 65s to enjoy being part of a wider urban community, with access to all the facilities and excitement of town centres, while also having any care and support they may need right on their doorstep, in a close-knit community in which they can live an active and sociable lifestyle. All Thrive Living schemes will be whole life net zero carbon, leading the way in the later living sector.
Tim Seddon, CEO of Retirement Villages Group, comments:
“To be moving forward with the fourth of our Thrive Living schemes is fantastic news, testimony to the hard work of the RVG team. The award-winning development at West Malling will help redefine what it means to live a rewarding and active later life. We are committed to building outstanding homes at the heart of local communities for the benefit of both our residents and local people.”
Katie Krohn, Director of Health & Social Care Finance at Virgin Money, comments:
“Virgin Money’s Health and Social Care Team is delighted to be supporting Retirement Villages Group with the development of their next IRC in West Malling. We have been thoroughly impressed with the level of thought and experience RVG have brought to the plans for West Malling and are pleased we can continue to support investment in the real estate and retirement living sectors. We are particularly excited to see the Thrive Living brand come to life given its focus on integration into the local community and well-being.”