Security, safety features, round-the-clock services, harmless raw materials and purpose-built interiors of the project convinced Sampop Punthuna, 76, and his wife to take up a 48-square-metre condominium unit at the residences in May this year. The monthly rent of Bt40,000 comes with three meals a day.

“We are happy with the accommodation, especially the emergency button and the handrails in the bathroom. There is another emergency button in the bedroom and a medical clinic is located in close proximity,” he said.

Villa Meesuk Residences is a part of Meesuk Society, offering residential units and the Baan Meesuk Nursing Home for the elderly.

Thongpun Pakasem, 90, a resident at the nursing home, said that facilities at the premises allows her to take part in daily activities, such as chatting with her friends or relaxing in the green area.

“We cater to the needs of the elderly,” said Meesuk Thailand Co Ltd’s director Sasiwimol Singhanetr in an interview with The Nation. “There is a abundant space for family visits and our on-site clinic has a direct link with a nearby hospital in case of an emergency.”

All 28 units in the condominium have been taken up through sales and rental, and the nursing home provides 24-hour care for ageing people with congenital diseases, she added.

Meesuk Society plans to expand with the construction of 14 single-detached houses, priced at Bt4 million a unit.

“Residential demand for the elderly is growing as the country moves towards an ageing society. However, a thorough understanding of their requirements and daily necessities is needed in planning a project for the elderly,” Sasiwimol said.

“A few property companies have sought counsel from us on services and design. The

number of residential units meant for the elderly will soon be rising,” she added

A study by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) shows that Thailand has been moving towards an ageing society since 2005 with a growing demographic of citizens aged 60 or above. It has now risen to 11.23 million, or 17.13 per cent of the population.

“Thailand will become a full-fledged ageing society in 2021 with senior citizens making up 20 per cent or 13.1 million of the population,” the report said.

Among them, those aged 70-79 and above 80, will account for 37.2 per cent and 19.1 per cent respectively, amounting to 56.3 per cent of the aged population.

According to health reports, the number of seniors needing assistance for their daily activities, such as moving around the house, eating and bathing, rose to 20.7 per cent in 2014 from 15.5 per cent in 2009. Those totally dependent on help made up 1.3 per cent of the total.

LPN Development Plc, in collaboration with the Thai Red Cross Society, is developing a condominium project “Sawangkanives” for the elderly at Bang Pu district, Samut Prakan province.

Facilities planned for the project include a library, a communal living room, a game room, a swimming pool, a green park and a fitness centre.

Interiors of the residential units will be built with hygienic raw materials, and the bathroom will have handrails and anti-slip tiles.

“This project is tailor-made for the elderly,” said Opas Sripayak, the company’s chief executive officer and managing director.

Meanwhile, SC Assets has developed its first residential project, designed for all generations of a family, under the Grand Bangkok Boulevard brand.

Grand Bangkok Boulevard Srinakarin, designed under the concept of eldercare solution, will feature a ramp built for moving a wheelchair between a parked car and the 90-centimetre-wide entrance to the bedroom on the ground floor, said chief executive officer Nuttaphong Kunakornwong.

Shock-absorption materials are used as floor-coverings, and to avoid accident, the bathroom will be slip-proof with no step, the company said.

AP (Thailand) Plc plans to develop a condominium for seniors in 2020, with support in design and technology from its Japanese partner Mitsubishi Estate Group after a visit to its construction sites in Tokyo last month, said Vittakarn Chandavimol, the company’s chief of corporate strategy and creation department.

“Ease of movement is the priority in designing a residential unit for the elderly. For example, there should be no tub in the bathroom as it is safer and easier for them to have a shower instead, and there should be no step throughout the unit,” he said.

“Also, an area for family activities is needed. Even though a senior may not be able to participate, they will surely be happy to be present.”

The agreement paves the way for Centara to enter into management agreements for three hotels in Laos in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Suthikiati said: “This signing ceremony demonstrates our commitment to expansion in Asia as we continue to develop our portfolio internationally.

“With the expertise from a country leader in development like AIDC and Centara’s record of delivering guest experiences, we are very excited to be partnering for success on these three exciting projects in Laos.”

Pheutsapha Phoummasak, president of AIDC Laos, said: “Luang Prabang and Vientiane are very popular destinations. We are excited to partner with Centara to bring their trusted brands to these cities and further promote the tourism potential of Laos.”

In addition, the Centara Plumeria Resort Pakse in Laos is scheduled to open in 2020.

Prices of newly launched projects average out to between Bt150,000 and Bt170,000 per square metre. Land prices start at Bt500,000-1 million per square wa, and are approaching Sukhumvit prices.

The Chatuchak BTS skytrain station is one of the factors, the firm said, and demand has been growing at 8.4 per cent per year.

Anukul Ratpitaksanti, managing director of Plus Property Company Limited, said the area had limited sites which are large enough for property development.

Suwanna Buddhaprasart, CEO of LH Mall and Hotel Co Ltd, said there would be 396-room hotel, a 6,000 sqm water park and dedicated meeting and function rooms, Terminal21 Pattaya, a six-floor shopping centre with a cinema, supermarket, Pier 21 food hall and more than 500 shops.

It also boasts a 39-metre freestanding escalator, reportedly the longest in any Thai shopping centre. It is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors per day.

“The concept of ‘township’ has been adopted in the overall design of our latest projects on a 115-rai plot in Krungthep Kreetha, Bangkok and a 200-rai site at Bang Kra Dee district, Pathumthani provice,” said SC Asset Corporation Plc’s chief executive officer Nuttaphong Kunakornwong at an interview with The Nation.

A survey among residents in the vicinities of the new projects was carried out by the Research and Design Service Centre (Redek) of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi on behalf of the company, seeking information on facilities needed in the projects, in addition to unit design, space functions and the ecosystem around the developments.

The survey covered 400 respondents living close to each sites, with half of them expressing interest in the concept while others preferred that of our competitors.

Conducted between March and April, it found that most homebuyers expected a wider range of facilities in a residential project, such as coffee shops, retail outlets, and car-care centre among others.

In view of the findings, we will leave open a six-rai space in front of both projects for commercial premises as well as serving as a common area for residents and others staying in the vicinities.

“This marks the first time we have carried out a survey before the design stage of a project, in search of a new business model through Big Data amid changes in customer behaviours. The approach falls in line with our motto of being a “Living Solution Provider,” Nuttaphong said.

Chomchada Kuldiloke, head of corporate communications of SC Asset Corporation Plc, said the Bang Kra Dee community project will house 7,000 occupants in 1,700 units, based on the calculation of four members per family staying in a resident. As such, the project must be fully equipped to serve the large number of residents.

“A company research found that homebuyers were most concerned about security, while transportation between home and workplace also figures large in their decision-making process. Proper arrangement will have to be made in collaboration with companies in the transport sector,” she said.

“The projects will be launched in the market in the next two quarters after the design stage, including the common areas out front,” Chomchada said.

Singha Estate Plc also plans to develop a township project on a 240 rai site at Krung Thep Kree Tha, worth over Bt13 billion, the company ‘s chief executive officer Naris Cheyklin said recently.

The project will combine single-detached houses, townhouses, offices, retail outlets, and a hotel, he said.

Meanwhile, Sansiri Plc has developed a 50-rai “township” on Sukumvit 77. The T77 project covers six condominiums and townhouses totalling 5,000 units at an investment cost of Bt10.5 billion.

Given the large population, the company incorporated a Habito Community Mall, and Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School in its landscape design. “We have created a community with a wide range of facilities to meet the lifestyle of our customers,” said Sansiri Plc’s president Srettha Thavisin.

Situated in the same location is the Bt1.3-billion Park Court Grand Apartment, developed by MK Real Estate Plc.

Lumpini Township Klong 1 Rang Sit, a 10-rai community project with 10,074 residential units and seven commercial premises, has been developed by LPN Development Plc.

“It is a integrated project of residential units, commercial premises and other facilities such as a clinic and a fitness centre, among others. It also comes with an efficient transportation network, “ said Opas Sripayak, the company’s chief executive officer and managing director. “We met the demands of our customers related to security, facilities and mobility, “ he added.

“Despite the presence of Future Park Rang Sit Shopping Center in the area, there is a community mall in the project as residents still prefer to shop at the closest outlet,” he said.

In line with customers’ demand for more facilities in a right environment, the company has accommodated branches of 7-11 convenience store at all of its residential projects. In addition, more services such as laundry, cleaning and maintenance will be available through collaborations.

“With more than 40 years of experience in the property business, we are convinced that a project designed under the community and township concept will please homebuyers in a new era,” Opas concluded.

The company also plans to launch Teak Ratchaca, worth Bt400 million, in the first quarter of next year, he said.

The acquisition will bolster CPN’s business expansion plan through mixed-use development to support and reinforce the value of its shopping mall business.

Preecha Ekkunagul, CEO of CPN, stated that CPN Pattaya Co Ltd, a subsidiary of CPN, has acquired shares of Grand Canal Land Public Company Limited (Gland) from its major shareholders and will prepare a mandatory tender offer for the remaining shares.

The acquisition of Gland, a developer of properties for sale and for rental and services comprising office buildings, hotel, residential and retail areas, as well as several real estate projects under development and land bank, will support CPN’s growth strategy through mixed-use development projects to provide a return to shareholders in the long-term.

Naparat Sriwanvit, chief financial officer at CPN, said the firm will make a tender offer for the remaining 3,221 million shares for Bt9.987 billion.

The transaction will be wholly funded by loans from financial institutions.

CPN will submit a declaration of intent to acquire a controlling interest of the business within one day after the announcement is made public and will submit a tender offer within seven days after the declaration of intent to acquire a controlling interest of the business.

CPN has set a five-year growth strategy that aims to achieve a compounded annual growth rate in revenue of approximately 13 per cent per year.

The strategic direction to expand the business through mixed-use development, such as new shopping malls, enhancement of existing shopping malls, rental rate escalations, incremental gains from operations management and residential project development, are key drivers to realise the target.

Furthermore, CPN studied the opportunities to expand its business internationally to accommodate its sustainable growth aspiration.

Central Pattana Plc holds a 100-per-cent stake in CPN Pattaya Co Ltd.

The SET report said the company’s board of directors had approved the acquisition of Gland by CPN Pattaya.

The investors selling Gland shares are Charoenkrit Enterprise Co Ltd, Belle Park Residence Co Ltd, Jatersiri Boondicharern, Romani Boondicharern and Jatemongkol Boondicharern.

CPN has not yet reached a conclusion on delisting Gland from SET listing.

The project will open to online bookings on September 25, the company’s CEO Chanond Ruangkritya said yesterday.

Ananda Development has appointed CIMB Thai bank to be its underwriter and issue hybrid bonds that offer an interest rate of 8.5 per cent for the first five years. Bonds can be booked from September 20 to 25, he said.

The first phase of the project is Golden Neo Sathorn is comprised of single-detached houses and twinhouses, which start at Bt6.49 million. The project will be open for bookings on September 22 and 23.