Virgin loan kick-starts later-living scheme

A £37m development loan from Virgin Money has kick-started construction of a 142-home later-living scheme in West Malling, Kent. Retirement Villages Group will start construction of the community later this year, with completion scheduled for 2026. It will be the fourth retirement community in RVG’s Thrive Living collection.  The West Malling site will contain a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and terraced cottages. It will also feature resident amenities, including a wellness centre, gym, bar and restaurant. Chief executive Tim Seddon said: “To be moving forward with the fourth of our Thrive Living schemes is fantastic news, testimony to the hard work of the RVG team. We are committed to building outstanding homes at the heart of local communities for the benefit of both our residents and local people.”