Attracting new buyers with a diverse offering (The Crescent, Thame)
1 Sep 2026Overview
With the UK’s ageing population continuing to grow, the need for new homes that offer accessible and adaptable living is expected to rise significantly. At Gartec, we are already experiencing signs of this future trend with customers retrofitting or rebuilding their homes with lifts at the heart of the design.
“Property developers have a real opportunity to appeal to this wider audience by bringing diversity to the housing market,” says Matthew Akerman, Home Sales Director at Gartec.
“Accessible or adaptable homes are scarce in the UK, but as we are increasingly seeing with our customers, demand for homes with lifts is expected to grow significantly.
“Developers who address this requirement today are positioning themselves ahead of future market trends. By creating homes that appeal to a wider audience they can achieve stronger returns and remain desirable for generations to come.”
The development
One such forward-thinking company, is award winning residential developer Rectory Homes, known for its unique and high-quality homes. Gartec recently worked with Rectory on their latest development, The Crescent in Thame, installing the Aritco HomeLift Compact within the site’s prestigious properties.
The Crescent is a unique collection of exclusive three-storey homes, crafted from Bath stone and buffcoloured brickwork. Designed by Yiangou Architects of Cirencester, the properties combine high-quality architectural detailing with practical, future-ready living.
From the developer’s perspective, including the Aritco HomeLift Compact helped enhance the overall specification of the homes, while providing a distinctive feature for buyers looking for comfort, convenience and long-term accessibility.
Adding value through accessible design
Associate Director at Rectory, Poppy Hughes, said:
“We decided to install a platform lift to provide our clients with easy, discreet access across all three floors of their property. The lift not only improves day-today accessibility but also helps futureproof the home, ensuring it can continue to meet the changing needs of our clients and their family members for years to come.”
Rectory’s Associate Buying Director, Andrew Stevens, added:
“The lifts have undoubtedly added value to the properties and have been a positive feature in both sales and marketing. They provide a unique opportunity for clients to enjoy three-storey living without compromising on accessibility, convenience, or future adaptability. The lifts are thoughtfully designed, discreetly integrated, and complement the overall aesthetic of the properties, making them an attractive and practical addition for prospective buyers.”
Gartec collaborated with Rectory throughout the process, helping it determine the most suitable lift for the development and enabling it to incorporate the lift into the home designs. The team also provided on-site support at the construction stage for a seamless installation process.
Advice for property developers
Rectory’s advice for other property developers looking to meet the needs of future residents is to consider platform lifts in their design, especially for townhouse homes, or to provide options for future installation, such as providing a lift zone in floor joists for removal which would not affect structural works.
Poppy added:
“We would advise that if developers are designing three storey developments and their target market may include mature clients, then careful consideration should be given to accommodate either a platform lift as part of the design, or if not, provide design options for future installation.”
A smarter investment for the future
As well as meeting the needs of a growing ageing population and enhancing the development’s specification, sales and marketing opportunities, the inclusion of a lift in a new build home design allows for differentiation from competing schemes and increased future resale desirability.
Matt added:
“Homes with lifts have a higher perceived property value and a much wider appeal, not just from the mature market but from multi-generational families. These homes therefore have the benefit of being futureproofed for both the buyer and the developer’s perspective.”
Lift specification
Lift: Aritco HomeLift Access
Bespoke features: Glazed shaft wall panels, anthracite grey finish
Technical details: 900 x 1280mm platform, 2 stop, automatic double doors at ground floor, Half-height upper landing gate, adjacent entrance configuration, oak vinyl flooring
Reasons for purchase: Futureproofing a forever home, improving long-term accessibility and creating a feature that complements the contemporary extension.
