Read Adam’s article in Disability Now.

Adam Thomas is responsible for the kitchens, bathrooms and interior design in Q Well being.

I spoke to a number of eminent Lawyers, Case Managers and Personal Assistants about holidays and investments. Both of which are key issues for individuals recently disabled through negligence who receive a lump sum in compensation. Key considerations for many people in these circumstances include immediate outlay on housing and equipment but also investment to ensure future income.

Q Well Being offers an excellent option. Individuals can buy an apartment and then have a number of choices which answer a number of needs. They may want it to be personalised and make it their permanent home to take advantage of Cyprus’ temperate climate and excellent healthcare provision. Others may want to have it as a holiday home and just use it occasionally. Whilst some may want to take advantage of the excellent rental returns envisaged.

As there is a considerable amount of investment going on in Larnaca the chance of significant capital appreciation is high and because the complex is designed solely with accessibility and inclusivity in mind, yield (and occupancy!) will be very high.

Q Well Being will therefore please clients but it will also save insurance companies money as if a client makes a claim for holiday provision via purchase of a Q Well being apartment the cost of this will be significantly lower than lifetime ad hoc holiday provision.

There is a ready demand for luxury rental apartments abroad just waiting to be satisfied and from what we are being told, they are prepared to pay a premium for luxury and purpose built accessibility.

Q Well Being apartments should make an excellent investment proposition.

Not only are the apartments for sale huge and also great value when compared to other luxury complexes in Cyprus and the rest of Europe, but as the Pound strengthens almost on a daily basis Q Wellbeing becomes even better value for UK based purchasers.

As I write this today the £ against the € is nudging closer to 1.2 from its low point of near parity in December 2008. Experts predict this to continue with a ’steady state’ considered to be around 1.4. In effect your £ will purchase almost 20% more than it did 6 months ago. It is now an excellent time to buy your ideal home in sunny Cyprus and benefit from all the investment in and around the area over the next 5 to 10 years!

It all changed last year when I met Adam Thomas, and we started chatting about accessible properties abroad and he told me about a project he was working on. It was in Cyprus, somewhere that we had looked at previously to buy a property, as we had visited numerous times both for training camps and family holidays. I explained some of the difficulties that I experienced in accessibility, but also the importance of design and aesthetics, of wanting somewhere that was suitable, but looked nice too ! My father is an architect so these are some of the things that I grew up with. The project that Adam was working on also had a gym and a spa (I spend more time in the latter than the former these days). Getting all those things right is so important and needs time, and good people behind it.

I was asked to put some of my experience of training facilities and gyms into practise by looking at the designs and concept, but I knew that if I wanted to do it properly then I would have to go and visit the parent company and also the site. I have just come back from Cyprus where I met George, the architect behind all the plans and designs that I had seen in the UK. George is forward thinking and committed to beautiful designs that work – he listened to what Adam and I have had to say about the balance of accessibility and style. I also has a chance to look at the site where the apartments are going to be and also the surrounding area, they are in a great place and there are some exciting developments on their way which I will tell you more about soon !!!! I think that what is going to happen there is going to be a brilliant long term investment and have been so pleased that I am buying an apartment, and am in the process of picking the apartment that I would like. There is definitely more to come…

It is a beautiful, unspoiled island of contrasts. The rural Turkish north and the more developed Greek Cypriot south; sleepy villages and lively nightlife; Byzantine art and architecture and popular beach resorts. The weather, the food and the people alone make it a fantastic holiday destination.

Because it is such a popular tourist destination, in recent years facilities for disabled people in the south have really improved. Cypriots themselves are friendly and helpful and there is a general willingness to help overcome the access hurdles.

In the larger hotels in the south, you’ll find a reasonable level of wheelchair access – though as ever it’s worth checking precise details in advance. Prices compared to the UK are good.

When Adam and I visited, we travelled with Cyprus Airlines, who were excellent and really took care of us. You pay a little bit more but get a great service. British Airways, Monarch and Easyjet are among the 50+ airlines who also fly there.

We spent a day driving all over the island, including up into the mountains where the views are incredible. We picked out our very own plot for an apartment too!

But the Q Well Being project is in complete contrast to that – as are The Quality Group, whose Managing Director and chief architect I’ve had the pleasure to get to know. For once, when I suggest changes that will boost the accessibility and usability of the apartments and the site as a whole, I get a really positive response. Cost is not the constant justification for rejecting suggestions.

It really is a breath of fresh air. I’ve had a great time recently, advising on the interior of all the Q Well Being apartments. I’ve been paralysed myself since 1981 so I know just how important your ‘home’ space is for being able to feel comfortable, safe and independent.

Let me explain why. The show is a fantastic show case for 1000’s of really useful but functional items, designed by some really clever engineers. But what struck me was the lack of aspirational offerings to a consumer group who are obviously just as discerning as the wider population. Of course there were other kitchen manufacturers there, but Adam’s kitchens were the only products I saw in any category that really looked and felt great, as well as doing the job they were designed to do.

This is exactly how I see Q Well Being positioning itself beautifully designed luxury apartments that are also incredibly functional.