The Orchard Spa and Arboretum opened today with a special induction weekend for residents and guests.
The £3 million spa at The Lakes by yoo is a modern building made from glass and timber and in keeping with the luxury second homes.
It includes an indoor 20m pool, club room and billiard table, treatment rooms, gym, steam room, sauna and children’s pool.
John Hitchcox, founder of development company yoo and director of The Lakes by yoo near Lechlade, shares his favourite things about the area……
Get out and take a good look around. It is one of the most stunning parts of the country and there is so much to explore. You never know what you might find down those meandering country lanes. Visit the great country pubs, wander along the beautiful rivers and discover the market towns and villages. You can’t discover it if you stay inside.
What do you love most about this area?
I love the little villages and the lush green countryside. The Cotswolds is such a unique place and has the best of everything from good pubs to wonderful local produce to amazing outdoor activities. The Lakes is within Cotswold Water Park so we are spoilt with fantastic water sports such as sailing and motor-skiing. We are also close to Fairford, Lechlade and Burford – all beautiful communities with great independent shops and restaurants. I love the area because it is just 90 minutes from London – less on a good day – but still a world away from it with its calm, beautiful landscape.
Why did you choose this particular location for The Lakes by yoo?
When I first saw the estate, with its six fresh water lakes within 650 acres of countryside, I knew it was special. The large expanses of water are unique in this part of the world, for example Bowmoor Lake is almost a kilometre in length with two islands.
The location is ideal, too: within 90 minutes of London, easily accessible by the A40 or the M4 and close to a main train station (Swindon) and near Oxford. Everything combined to make it the perfect location for a community.
What inspired your vision for the development?
This whole project was a lifestyle and family driven process. I work in London but I want my children to spend time in the country and to understand the country. We tried the commuter thing and it didn’t really work as we spent all our time travelling and never having a life in either place.
Then I thought about a second home but that can be fraught. All too often, after work on Friday, you pile the children into the car and arrive at 9pm to a cold dark house with an empty fridge. You wake up to grumpy kids who would rather be with friends and have nothing to do. You face entertaining them, doing the chores and fixing things around the house when really you just want a rest.
So our idea was to create a community of like-minded people where everyone can socialise with their neighbours. The children develop friendships because they see each other regularly. They have the freedom to explore the estate, which is packed with activities to stimulate them, keep them entertained and to educate them about the environment around them. There are also activities for the grown-ups to enjoy, everything from the gym to Saturday evening barbecues at the fishing huts to yoga lessons.
The final piece is the concierge service which means you arrive to a fully-stocked fridge and a house that’s tidy and ready for you to unwind in. The team is on call to help organise anything from babysitting to a birthday party.
What I wanted to do was create a community that my family could enjoy – and we do.
Does the Lakes by yoo have its own distinct community feel?
Yes, it is starting to as we now have more than 50 houses on the estate. We always intended for it to be guided by two sources. One is from us the developers – and that is great design, a community feeling and something for everyone. The other is from those who have homes here and their feedback as to what they would like. In the past eight months it has really come together and there is a real sense of community.
What are your future plans for the development?
We are putting the finishing touches to our £3 million spa which will be finished by the end of March. It will also include an orchard and arboretum. We are looking at expanding the activities we offer on site and are considering an art studio and a climbing wall. We would, one day, like to have stables too.
Our current phase is about building lakeside properties but we are about to launch a competition for innovative designs for homes in our wooded areas. The Lakes has become internationally unique, much like the island of Mustique. We are seeing friends recommending friends to buy at The Lakes and it is becoming a special, close-knit community.
What do you most enjoy doing in and around the Cotswolds?
I love the cycling and being outdoors. I particularly like sailing which we can do at The Lakes and are lucky to have the fantastic Bowmoor Sailing Club next door.
I also love pottering around the estate thinking about the next thing we could do. I’ve made so many new friends here that it is my favourite place to spend weekends, relaxing and catching up with everyone.
Where would you recommend going out locally?
Oh, it has to be The Swan at Southrop because we love it – a beautiful country pub with fantastic food. In Cirencester, I would recommend the deli Made by Bob. We have some great restaurants and pubs in Lechlade, too, so we are spoilt for choice.
What is the best thing about having a business based in this area?
The best thing is working with the great professionals who are all based here, right on our doorstep. Our local suppliers provide everything from plumbing and security to flowers and firewood.
We can get involved in the community, which is so satisfying. We have been involved with a range of projects from helping save Lechlade Youth Club from closure to sponsoring Kempsford playground and the first Lechlade Music Festival.
We also work in partnership with local schools allowing them to make the most of our facilities during the week when our residents are not here. They organise meetings and activity days for the children and we provide the facilities at no charge. It’s a fantastic place to come to work.
my cotswolds… John Hitchcox
The Lakes by yoo: 01367 250066 / GL7 3DT /
thelakesbyyoo.com
The Lakes had a jubilee feel yesterday for a magazine feature about vintage teas.
A new youth club has been given a boost by developers The Lakes by yoo.
The company has donated £1,000 to the Kempsford Youth Club. The money has been used to buy a TV screen, xbox and a projector.
After eight amazing years in the Cotswold town of Fairford, restaurant allium is set to move to a new location later this year.
