Meet The Member - The Oakleigh, Elysian Residences - St. Albans
We caught up with our member The Oakleigh by Elysian Residences to discover the vision behind this beautiful new later-life living community in St Albans, offering stylish apartments and cottages set within 13 acres of woodland and gardens, with independent living, wellbeing and a welcoming sense of community at its heart.
We are happy to have The Oakleigh, Elysian Residences as a member of the We Are St Albans community! Could you tell us a little about the journey behind Elysian Residences and what inspired the idea for The Oakleigh in St Albans?
We’re happy to be a part of the community! We have seen how well later-life communities work in Australia and New Zealand, where moving somewhere designed for this stage of life is seen as a positive choice rather than a last resort. In the UK there are very few good examples, so many people never realise it can be a great option for downsizing. St Albans felt like the natural home for The Oakleigh. It has a strong sense of community, a rich history and beautiful countryside on its doorstep, and many people here have lived in the area for decades and want to stay close to friends, family and everything they love about it.
The Oakleigh offers a very different approach to retirement living, with 124 apartments and cottages set across 13 acres of woodland, gardens and ponds. What was important when creating a place that feels like a home rather than a traditional retirement development?
We were determined that nowhere at The Oakleigh would feel like a care home. Every apartment and cottage is a proper home, with open-plan living, bespoke kitchens, plenty of light and private balconies or gardens. The cottages have high ceilings up into the eaves and sit along quiet, landscaped paths with direct access to the woodland. We also thought hard about the arrival experience. Instead of a reception desk, the entrance has a little shop stocked with locally source produce, so it feels more like arriving in a village than checking in somewhere. When families visit with their parents, the first thing we often hear is, “This is amazing, I could live here,” and that is exactly the reaction we hoped for.
Independence is clearly at the heart of The Oakleigh, with support and care available when needed rather than defining everyday life. How does this approach give residents the freedom to live life on their own terms?
Our owners are independent people with their own routines, tastes and identities, and we didn’t want to design for a stereotype. Everyone has their own front door and lives exactly as they choose. What we offer is peace of mind in the background: an on-site team and a 24-hour response line, plus optional services such as housekeeping, gardening and transport if and when they are wanted. That means less time spent worrying about the boiler, the hedges or how to get into town, and more time for the things people actually enjoy.
Community is another big part of the Oakleigh experience, from the restaurant and bar to the art studio, shared spaces and events programme. What have you found makes a community really come alive and helps neighbours become friends?
In our experience, community comes alive when people have easy, natural reasons to bump into each other, and real choice about how much they join in. The Botané restaurant, the bar, the library, the art studio and our terraces all give people somewhere to gather without it ever feeling organised. The events programme helps too, from art classes and supper lectures to Pilates, boules, backgammon and a gardening club, many run by or featuring local experts. Owners can book everything in person or through our app. The friendships that grow from a shared class or a chat over coffee are the heart of the place, but always on each person’s own terms.
The Oakleigh is designed around the idea of ‘elevated country living’, while being just a short distance from St Albans and well connected to London. How important was the location in shaping the lifestyle you wanted to offer?
Location was everything. We wanted owners to wake up to woodland, ponds and gardens, but still feel connected to the life they already have. The Oakleigh sits just outside Chiswell Green, around ten minutes from St Albans city centre, and London St Pancras is about 15 minutes away by direct train from St Albans City. We also run a car that takes residents into town for shopping or the cinema, and into London for the theatre and galleries. Losing your independence often comes down to transport becoming harder, so making it easy to stay connected to the wider world was really important to us.
There is clearly a strong emphasis on wellbeing and enjoying life, with beautiful outdoor spaces, dining, creative activities and opportunities to socialise. How do you encourage residents to make the most of everything The Oakleigh has to offer, while still having complete privacy when they want it?
Much of it comes down to making things easy and welcoming. A coffee on the terrace, a walk around the 13 acres of grounds or a drop-in class are all low-key ways to get involved, and our team gets to know residents so they can mention things they might enjoy. Just as important, nobody is ever expected to take part. Every home is completely private, and some days the best thing is simply enjoying your own garden or balcony with a book. We think the right balance is having plenty on your doorstep and the freedom to decide how much of it to enjoy.
Moving home at any stage of life is a big decision, and perhaps even more so when it means making a change to the way you think about retirement. What would you say to someone who might initially feel that retirement living isn’t for them?
We would say come and see it for yourself. Many people have a picture in their mind of what retirement living looks like, and The Oakleigh is usually nothing like it. Too often, the British way has been to age quietly and avoid asking for anything, and that can lead to real loneliness. Moving somewhere warm and inviting while you are still active means you get to enjoy it fully. For many people, especially those who have lived locally for decades and find themselves property rich but cash poor, it can also be a way to downsize and release equity without leaving the area they love. We run relaxed coffee mornings every Tuesday and tours every Wednesday, so there is no pressure, just a chance to get a feel for the place.
The Oakleigh has been designed to welcome visiting family and the wider community as well as its residents. Why was that intergenerational and open approach important to you?
We believe the best way to age is to stay connected to every generation and to the wider community. We didn’t want to create a gated community shut away from everyone else. Security matters, of course, but we also want to keep the doors open. Neighbours are welcome to pop in for a coffee or a meal at Botané, grandchildren are always welcome, and families can share a lunch or a private dinner with their parents. Having people of all ages around gives The Oakleigh a real sense of life, and it means residents never feel cut off from the world around them.
With The Oakleigh now welcoming its first residents and Phase 2 launching, what are you most excited about as the community continues to grow and develop?
Seeing The Oakleigh become a home is the most exciting part. For a long time, it has been plans, construction and show homes, and now it is about people, friendships and the life they build here. Our launch afternoon was a lovely glimpse of that, with families, neighbours and future residents enjoying food from Botané, live music and wreath-making together. With Phase 2 launching a new collection of cottages and apartments, we are looking forward to welcoming more residents and watching the events programme grow with their own ideas and interests.
Finally, when the team isn’t at The Oakleigh, where would you recommend in and around St Albans for a great coffee, lunch, a walk or somewhere to unwind?
We are spoilt for choice. For a walk, Verulamium Park is hard to beat, with the lake and the Roman walls, and Heartwood Forest near Sandridge is beautiful in every season. A wander around the Cathedral followed by the Saturday market is a lovely way to spend a morning. And of course, right on our doorstep, Burston Garden Centre is perfect for a coffee and a browse.