An up-market developer is searching for new sites as demand booms for retirement homes, writes David Duffy.

English Courtyard usually builds in villages and market towns on so-called "brown-field" sites with redundant buildings, for instance farmyards and schools.

It is focusing on Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, the Home Counties, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Bath and Avon.

Land director Victor Kidd said: "On occasion mainstream developers are made unwelcome when they have identified development sites. Very often English Courtyard is made more welcome and is regarded as providing well-designed properties which fit in well with the local vernacular.

"There are many advantages that a retirement development can bring. As well as environmental improvements there are benefits to local traders as most of our developments are within walking distance of shops."