A major York housing scheme transforming an iconic chocolate factory into 279 flats has been completed and is home to its first residents.
Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, has completed the £80m Cocoa Works scheme on Haxby Road.
The 12.3 acre site was originally the Rowntrees factory, built in 1890, which made KitKat, Aero, Smarties and Milky Bar.
The development of 279 flats- 30 per cent of which are affordable- includes the former Joseph Rowntree Memorial library becoming a co-working and meeting space for residents, including a concierge.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- York Cocoa Works show home opens in old Rowntree factory
- Cafe Frango gets alcohol licence at Cocoa Works in York
A new William Sutton pavilion, named after the Victorian social housing visionary who played a crucial role in establishing what is now Clarion Housing Group, has also been created and is home to independent York café CAVO, alongside a flexible, bookable communal space for residents.
Richard Cook, Chief Development Officer at Clarion Housing Group, called it a huge endeavour to deliver a scheme for all to be proud of, recalling the importance of the factory to York’s history and Joseph Rowntrees’s role in championing workers’ rights.
He said: “That’s why we made a promise to honour this important legacy through our redevelopment of the factory. We wanted to do more than just build homes at The Cocoa Works.
“We aspired to deliver more by sympathetically redeveloping the factory to sit at the centre of a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood which provides quality homes, amenities and shared spaces to help foster a genuine community.
“With The Cocoa Works now complete, it gives me tremendous pride to be able to say we’ve delivered on that promise.”
Despite its important cultural status, the Rowntree’s Factory fell out of use after production at the factory halted in 2006. It was left standing unused and derelict for more than a decade before Latimer secured planning permission to redevelop the site in 2017.
Resident at The Cocoa Works, Michael Gibson, 63, said: “When I discovered The Cocoa Works development, I was sold. It's such a popular building which I knew well from living in York and I loved that it was being repurposed.
“The Rowntree’s Factory was a massive employer in the area, and I remember passing it many times, smelling the chocolate, it’s a building of great beauty. It’s a landmark I felt I could live in because it means so much to the people of York.”
Ryan O’Loughlin, Director at Henry Boot Construction, the principal contractor for The Cocoa Works project, said: “The Rowntree’s Factory is an iconic part of York’s heritage and we’re proud to have delivered its transformation to The Cocoa Works. This ensures the story of this beloved building continues for decades to come with a residential development of outstanding quality.
For more information about The Cocoa Works, go to: https://www.thecocoa-works.com/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here