Wycliffe Park

: Stokenchurch

Wycliffe Park is a thoughtfully designed 156-apartment retirement village, spanning 10 hectares within Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Tailored for residents aged 55 and over, the design departs from traditional large-block retirement complexes by employing a farmstead-inspired cluster layout. This innovative approach creates a domestic scale that maximizes natural light and ventilation and fosters a strong sense of community. Landscaped paths, deck access routes and welcoming courtyards replace conventional internal corridors, promoting social activities and interaction among residents.

The design integrates seamlessly into its rural surroundings, embracing a contemporary aesthetic informed by local agricultural typologies, without resorting to pastiche. Carefully selected materials and modern building techniques respect the region's character, ensuring efficient, sustainable homes that blend harmoniously with their environment. Central to Wycliffe Park is a reimagined manor house containing communal facilities and a bistro accessible to both residents and the broader community, encouraging social engagement and connection to the local landscape. Originally approved in 2014, the initial scheme lapsed due to funding constraints. Planning consent for the revised design was secured in 2018, reclassifying all accommodation as C2 to enhance project viability. Post-consent challenges included accommodating an operator who joined the venture post planning consent and requested additional two-bedroom units to align with market demand. Consequently, internal layouts were reconfigured, preserving the approved external aesthetics and efficient use of space. Wycliffe Park delivers high-quality, accessible retirement housing, encourages housing market movement, and enhances its landscape and ecological setting, meeting both the client’s brief and local planning requirements.