The highly anticipated new development, The Chocolate Factory in Greenbank, has officially opened its Visitor Centre.
Housed in Elizabeth Shaw House, the Visitor Centre will showcase everything on offer at the upcoming scheme which is bringing living, working and leisure space to BS5.
Househunters will learn more about the new homes available and will have the chance to use state-of-the-art Virtual Reality technology to envisage what the development will look like when the new buildings and streets are unveiled.
In homage to the site’s historical roots as the former Elizabeth Shaw chocolate factory, extensive archived information and imagery will be on show for anyone interested in finding out more about the development’s industrial past.
Jason Schofield, Development Director at Generator South West, the company that is bringing the scheme to life, said: “We’re really pleased with the Visitor Centre at The Chocolate Factory, it’s so much more than your average marketing suite, with a huge focus on the historical context of the site in the Greenbank area.
“The Chocolate Factory was a huge part of the community in BS5 with some former employees and other people that remember the working factory still living in close proximity. It is close to the hearts of many, so we really wanted to honour that with the Visitor Centre and display some of the archived photos and footage we have obtained. Anyone is welcome to come and have a look at the historical information, not just those who are thinking of buying a property. We would love people who have memories of the old factory to come and share them with us.”
The Chocolate Factory will include three- and four-bedroom houses, one- and two-bedroom apartments and affordable housing. It will also boast a landscaped public square, working spaces for local businesses and freelancers, retail units and a café/bar for the whole neighbourhood to enjoy. There will also be new access points directly onto the Bristol and Bath Railway Path meaning Temple Meads is under 20 minutes away on a bike.
“We’ve really pulled out all the stops on this Visitor Centre and we hope it will help people understand what we’re trying to achieve with the scheme and make an informed decision about living and/or working here,” continued Jason.
“It really is a fantastic development merging the industrial former feel of the factory with an updated, modern vibe suitable for professionals, families and downsizers. The additional benefits of having a shop, café and green areas on your doorstep, as well as the sought-after BS5 postcode, make it a really attractive prospect for buyers.”
Another exciting feature of the Visitor Centre is the model designed and built by local company Amalgam. Joe Preston of Amalgam said: ‘’The Chocolate Factory was a great project to work on. We needed to make sure we represented the extent of the green and landscaped public spaces as this is a real feature of the development. Even better that it’s just half a mile up the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, and fantastic to be able to work on a local project.’’
The Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory closed in 2006 and the site has laid derelict ever since. Generator South West have ensured some of the original buildings have remained intact.
The scheme is set to be launched in September.
For more information and to book an appointment at the Visitor Centre visit www.chocolatefactorybristol.com or email enquiries@chocolatefactorybristol.com
