Paragon Development Finance has provided a £15.9m facility to fund the acquisition and development of a 35-home later living scheme in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.
The deal, led by Oliver Powlesland with support from Amanda White, is the FTSE 250 lender’s third transaction with SME developer Beechcroft. It covers the acquisition of the former Grey House School site on Mount Pleasant, where 31 two-bedroom apartments and four terraced houses will be built for the over-55s market.
Most homes will include private outdoor space, either a garden, terrace or balcony, with lifts serving all apartment floors. Construction is due to start in summer 2026, with the first homes expected to reach the market the following summer.
The scheme responds to demographic pressure in the local area. Residents aged 50 to 64 in the surrounding area grew by 16.5% between the last two censuses, pointing to rising demand for purpose-built housing tailored to older occupiers.
Hartley Wintney village centre is within walking distance of the site, with independent shops, cafés, pubs and everyday amenities nearby. The development also sits close to Hartley Wintney Common, while Fleet and Winchfield railway stations both offer direct services to London Waterloo in around an hour. The M3 provides road access, with a straightforward link to Heathrow Airport.
Sustainability features built into the scheme include:
- Solar photovoltaic panels
- Air source heat pumps
- Electric vehicle charging points
- Biodiversity enhancements including additional planting and the installation of bird and bat boxes
Communal facilities will include a residents’ lounge, guest suite and an on-site office providing estate management and maintenance support.
“This is our third deal with Paragon, and we’re pleased to be continuing a strong and collaborative partnership,” said Chris Thompson, managing director at Beechcroft.
“The team’s understanding of our business, combined with their pragmatic and supportive approach, has been invaluable in helping us bring another exciting scheme forward. Hartley Wintney is an excellent location, offering prospective residents in this new community easy access to village amenities, transport links and green open spaces, alongside a range of on-site facilities tailored to the needs of today’s over 55s.”
“We’re delighted to be supporting Beechcroft on this latest transaction,” said Oliver Powlesland, senior relationship director at Paragon Development Finance.
“Our expanding partnership is built on a shared ambition to deliver well-designed homes that meet evolving housing needs, and we look forward to seeing this scheme come to life. Developments like this provide the over 55s with greater choice, enabling them to remain active, connected and independent within their local communities.”
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