Final apartment completes at chocolate factory development
Henry Boot Developments (HBD) has completed the final apartment at the multi-storey factory building in York, part of the 14-acre Chocolate Works site.
The Chocolate Works was formerly the location of the Terry’s Chocolate Factory – opened in 1926, the buildings were built in an art deco style. The site comprises 236,806 sq ft across a number of landmark properties, including the factory building, the Clock Tower and the ‘Liquor Store’, plus cleared development land.
HBD partnered with PJ Livesey to convert the 180,000 sq ft, Grade Two listed Factory building, now called The Residence, maximising its original features and character to create 163 luxurious apartments and a commercial unit.
The Residence is an impressive property and a core part of the site. The apartments boast expansive views over the River Ouse and the adjacent York Racecourse, while benefiting from close-proximity to the city’s historic centre.
The redevelopment of the site continues to progress apace, with plans in motion to convert the iconic Clock Tower into a further 22 apartments, again in partnership with PJ Livesey. The apartments are scheduled for completion in Summer 2018.
Work is also set to begin on the ‘Liquor Store’ pending agreement on a S106 negotiation. The team which runs the contemporary “Star in the City” and the “Star at Harome” will operate a restaurant, café and delicatessen from the building.
Hamer Boot, regional manager at Henry Boot Developments, said: “The completion of the final apartment within The Residence is an important milestone; it’s an incredible building, genuinely iconic and of real significance to the city. Along with the quality of the units, the character of the building – enhanced by the original features and its story – created a compelling proposition.”
Georgina Livesey, director at PJ Livesey, said: “The conversion of the Factory Building is an incredible success story. We saw unprecedented demand from buyers who wanted to live there and it is the company’s fastest selling development – 163 apartments sold in just 12 months. It is a real milestone to see the last apartment completed and the new owners moving in. This wonderful heritage building is now a thriving community and a lasting legacy for the city. We are looking forward to starting work converting its iconic neighbour, the Clock Tower, early in the New Year.”
2017 has been a hugely successful year for HBD with numerous large projects underway throughout the UK, including the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Markham Vale in Derbyshire and Kampus, a £250m mixed-use development in Manchester city centre. The developer has also recently opened its sixth UK office in Birmingham, with a dedicated Midlands presence bringing the team closer to significant projects underway in that region.
