Pure International announces arrival of Lower Mill Estate to Middle East

With a strictly limited number of bespoke homes nestled within a 550-acre nature reserve in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, Lower Mill Estate boasts the largest collection of modernist architecture in a rural landscape, as well as the UK's first commercial eco-pool and Artspa.

The development offers a unique lifestyle choice for Middle Eastern investors, as Lower Mill Estate has been developed as a specialised second home community. It is particularly suited to British expats wishing to invest in property at home, or investors looking for holiday letting opportunities.

Dubai will play host to an exclusive launch presentation, hosted at the Capital Club, DIFC on Wednesday, 15 October 2008.

Lower Mill Estate has been developed by Jeremy Paxton, 48, a one-time champion water-skier and a lover of nature who is committed to environmental causes. A man with an eye for the visual arts Jeremy is a dedicated proponent of exciting architecture and sustainable communities.

Paxton has spent thirteen years devoting his time to the realisation of his architectural and environmental dream. Now one of the largest British wildlife reserves in private hands, Lower Mill Estates provides a natural habitat for more than 3,500 species and the estate is now officially categorised by the British Government as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

Describing the development, Jeremy Paxton said:

"I had a vision of wanting to create a community which sat in absolute harmony with nature. We have brought together the raw beauty of nature with the best in architectural design to create outstanding habitats."

Phil Agius, Managing Director of Pure International, added:

"Any British national returning home during the summer, who may not have a permanent base in the UK will eventually realise they need somewhere flexible back home that they can really call their own. Lower Mill Estate not only gives a practical solution to this, but it also provides value added life experiences for the whole family. UAE nationals with a fondness for unique architectural brilliance and maybe some English tranquillity too are also expressing interest in these one-off home designs."

"From the investment side, UAE nationals and residents can also benefit from the current Dirham to sterling exchange rate, which represents around a fifteen per cent saving! In addition, when not in use by the home owner, the on-site rental management service can deliver high value income throughout the year," he added.

As Paxton visualised, the birth of a "genuine village community" has been created and this has been widely recognised by the number of awards and accolades it has won, as a community of the future.

Properties can also be rented out on short term lets as holiday homes, making this an even more appealing investment for the Middle East buyer. The development is the largest debt-free privately owned development of its kind in the UK.

The £6m (Dhs37.6m) Artspa, which is exclusively available for the use of residents only, has an indoor, outdoor and eco-pool, sauna, steam room, gym and four treatment rooms. It offers everything from tai chi at dawn to Pilates at sundown, candlelit swimming and aromatherapy treatments, and regular exhibitions of paintings and photography. There is even the unique chance to swim amid lilies and reeds in the UK's first commercial Eco Pool.

The conservation and ecological work that has been carried out at Lower Mill Estate includes the reintroduction of the beaver into the UK for the first time in 400 years. Other initiatives include owl nesting and breeding programmes, bat refuges, dragonfly posts and grass snake compost heaps. An on-site Farm shop provides locally sourced produce and will in the future stock the estate's own products.

One of the latest and most exciting projects within Lower Mill Estate is the 'Landmark Houses' programme which has 22 architects working on a total of 48 properties. The architects include Richard Reid, Will Alsop, Eva Jiricna, Sutherland Hussey, Richard Meier and Partners, Roger Sherman, Sarah Featherstone, Alison Brooks, Piers Gough, Greg Lynn. The 'Landmark Houses' will be more architecturally distinct than the other house types on the estate but all will share a concern for spatial and sculptural elaboration as well as the natural environment that surrounds them.

Paxton has himself designed a property, aptly called Paxton House, which will be positioned on one of the seven lakes within the estate. The double cube, two storey, four bedroom house with an exterior staircase climbing to an expansive roof terrace will afford stunning views over Howell's Mere. Paxton House is one of the houses available for purchase in the Middle East.