It is fair to say that most former Rowntree workers won’t recognise the place.
The developers who are turning a former Rowntree Factory building into apartments have released the first images showing how they will look when completed.
Built in the early 1890s, the Haxby Road building was once home to almond and cream production.
The site is now being turned into 279 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, named ‘The Cocoa Works’.
Some come with impressive views of York Minster. A communal landscaped area is being created at the front.
Altogether 84 will be available to buy via shared ownership. These are the apartment prices:
- studio: £158,000 – £176,500
- one-bedroom: £200,500-£244,000
- two-bedroom: £300,000-£342,000
- three-bedroom: £527,000-£532,000.
Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest provider of affordable housing, is behind the transformation.
Rich heritage
Richard Cook, Latimer director, said: “We’ve already had a huge amount of interest from buyers and investors for this iconic development, including some early reservations.
“York consistently outperforms the UK average in terms of property values and rental yields, with predicted yields of 4.2% on offer at The Cocoa Works.
“The appeal of the city and location, coupled with the quality of the homes we are providing and the rich heritage of the building, offers a unique opportunity to own a part of this special place.”
In the 1920s over 6,000 people worked in the building, known as York’s famous ‘Garden Factory’, where open space and education facilities supported the wellbeing of factory workers and their families.
Full details here.