We transformed York's iconic Rowntree Factory into 279 luxury apartments for Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group.
High-quality finishes to one, two and three-bed apartments complement modern community space including a concierge service and private working area.
Beautifully landscaped gardens and external space create a welcoming approach in a prime location off Haxby Road, North of York City Centre.
The eight-hectare site of historical significance was derelict for over a decade, originally being built in the 1890s and has now been sensitively restored, with the new design ensuring the original features of the building are celebrated and incorporated.
New piles and vertical steel bracing support an additional sixth floor which is home to steel frame and rainscreen clad penthouse apartments with balconies. Of the 279 apartments available, 111 are one-bedroom, 146 are two-bedroom and 15 are three-bedroom, providing a wide range of options for potential buyers.
We also constructed a new pavilion to the front of the site, which is now open as a cafe, as well as refurbishing the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library, home of the concierge service for the development.
We supported Latimer to commission a design and build contract through a partnering approach. Working with the incumbent design team, we sourced high-performing supply chain specialists to boost the project's Social Value credentials.
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.
Richard Cook, Group Director of Development, Clarion Housing GroupThe 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.
Ryan O'Loughlin, Regional Director
