Retirement Villages Group (RVG) has appointed Keady Construction as the main contractor for its award-winning integrated retirement community (IRC) in West Malling, Kent. This development, part of RVG’s pioneering Thrive Living Collection, recently won the Homes England Exemplar Award at the Housing Design Awards, in recognition of its outstanding design and RVG’s commitment to community integration.

Set to launch off-plan sales next year, the West Malling community will mark the fourth project in the Thrive Living Collection. On completion, it is expected to generate around 40 local jobs across hospitality, housekeeping, and maintenance and more.

Designed by award-winning architects RCKa, the West Malling development will feature 140 homes, with a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments in low rise buildings and terraced cottages, inspired by the nearby Georgian architecture. Residents will enjoy beautifully landscaped surroundings and high-quality amenities such as a wellness centre, gym, bar, and restaurant—many of which will also be open to the public to the benefit of the local community.

Thrive Living developments are located at the heart of towns or close to existing communities, enabling over-65s to stay connected to the wider community while enjoying access to local shops, restaurants, and cultural activities. Residents will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing care and support are readily available, and the freedom to live an active and sociable lifestyle on their terms.

The West Malling development, like all Thrive Living communities, will be whole of life net zero carbon, leading the way in the later living sector.  Carbon emissions will be minimised and offset over the entire lifespan of the community, contributing to a more sustainable future. The scheme will also deliver a 20% biodiversity net gain (BNG), setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the sector.

The first Thrive community opens its doors to residents in Chester (The Wyldewoods) in January 2025, with others currently under construction to follow soon after: West Byfleet (Botanical Place) in the summer of 2025, and the communities in West Malling and Tunbridge Wells, which are set to open in 2026.

Duncan Matthews, Development Director at Retirement Villages Group, commented: “Keady Construction has a proven track record and shares our ethos of putting quality and sustainability at the heart of everything we do. This makes them the ideal partner to bring this award-winning development to life, while creating significant local employment opportunities. We remain committed to building outstanding places for older people to live, at the heart of local communities, to the benefit of our residents and the wider area.”

Kieran Duggan, CEO of Keady Construction Limited, commented: “We at Keady are delighted to have been appointed by Retirement Villages Group to build their luxury retirement village scheme in West Malling. Throughout the design development stage, it became clear that both companies share the same passion for quality, safety and sustainability in the built environment. As a Kent based contractor, with our training academy located less than 20 miles from the project, this is also an ideal opportunity for us to employ local young people and give them a new career in construction, adding social value to this excellent scheme in the process.”