Appointed build contractor at Little Mount Lake

We’ve been appointed as build contractor to lead the delivery of Inspired Village’s new Little Mount Lake retirement community in Frant, East Sussex.

When complete, Little Mount Lake will deliver 146 specialist homes for over 65s in the form of apartments and cottages, whose design will draw reference from the surrounding architectural styles found within Wealden, nearby Tunbridge Wells and wider East Sussex. The site will also offer fantastic communal facilities such as a café and wellness centre (comprising a gym, swimming pool and a fitness suite) that will be available for the use of both village residents and the surrounding community. A clinical space will also be provided and offered to the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) open to both residents and the local community.

We will start work on site this month to begin delivery of phase one, which includes the first 55 homes and the village centre, that will feature plenty of green, landscaped space, respecting the local landscape character of the nearby High Weald National Landscape.

The appointment marks the continuation of the strong collaboration with Inspired Villages, with the recently completed second phase of construction at Inspired’s Ledian Gardens community near Maidstone in Kent.

Shaun Whelan, Development & Construction Director for Inspired Villages, said: “Little Mount Lake is scheduled to open in 2027 and we’re delighted to take a step closer to that with the appointment of Thakeham as our construction partner. We have a wealth of experience creating retirement communities, with our eleven successful villages, and bring all that knowledge to our plans for this latest village. It’s already a popular site that we are receiving enquiries on from prospective residents, so we’re really pleased to announce this important milestone.”

Dan Cornelius, our Partnerships Director, commented: “It’s great to be starting another project with Inspired, a company that echoes our values to build remarkable homes that enrich lifestyles and enhance wellbeing. It’s been a real team effort to get to this milestone, with multiple teams and departments involved. We look forward to starting on site and delivering another fantastic retirement development that will benefit both residents and the local community once complete.”

Following in the footsteps of other Inspired villages such as Millfield Green, Little Mount Lake will be delivered to a net zero carbon (regulated energy) standard by using energy efficient triple glazed windows, enhanced fabric insulation, air source heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels.