Development news4 December 2024

Latimer completes transformation of iconic Rowntree’s factory in York

The famous site, established in 1890 and home to some of the nation’s most loved confectionery brands, including KitKat and Milkybar, has been faithfully redeveloped into 279 apartments, 30 per cent of which are affordable homes.

The Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library, with The Cocoa Works as a background

Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, has completed its flagship project to transform the iconic Rowntree’s Factory into an £80m residential development called The Cocoa Works.

The famous site, which was established in 1890 and was home to some of the nation’s most loved confectionery brands including KitKat, Aero, Smarties and Milkybar, has been faithfully redeveloped into 279 apartments – 30 per cent of which are affordable homes.

As part of the development, the former Joseph Rowntree Memorial library has been re-imagined as a co-working and meeting space for residents, including a concierge.

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.

The Cocoa Works 1Of6

Richard Cook, Chief Development Officer at Clarion Housing Group, said:

“Our work to breathe new life into the Rowntree’s Factory has been a huge endeavour of which everyone involved can be really proud.

“We all understand just how important the Rowntree’s Factory is to York’s heritage. It created some of the country’s best loved confectionery and was a major employer in the city, with a founder in Joseph Rowntree who was ahead of his time when it came to championing workers’ rights and social value.

“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.

“We are also extremely proud of the work we have done within the local community, supporting some incredible charities and other initiatives over the last three years.”

For more information about The Cocoa Works – and to book a show home viewing – visit the link below.

The Cocoa Works

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