A high factory wall that for over 100 years has loomed over a street in Greenbank, Bristol has now been replaced by homes for young families.
The first residents will soon be moving into the seven new homes that form even numbers between 68 and 80 Co-Operation Road, Greenbank, Bristol.
That side of the road was dominated by the wall built around 1900 as part of the factory, which closed fifteen years ago, but which was once the heart of the community and the biggest employer.
The seven new homes are the first of 140 being created at the former Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory by regeneration specialists Generator South West.
Another part of the factory is also soon to be occupied where Abri Housing Association are offering 15 one-bedroom and 21 two-bedroom apartments under a shared ownership scheme to help people get on to the housing ladder.
Reservations are also being taken for Carsons Road, named after a former chocolate brand from the 1960s and 70s that was manufactured at the factory. The road will see a mix of 3 and 4-bedroom houses, which benefit from off street parking with a charging point for an electric vehicle, a rare commodity in the area.
As well as homes, with prices starting at £395,000, there will be small-scale office and shop units and a new public square and newly created access to the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, which provides a 15-minute easy cycling commute into central Bristol.
Mya Castillo, sales and marketing consultant to the project, commented: “We have reached an exciting stage where life will start to return to land that has been derelict and empty for many years.
“We have a show apartment and a show home for people to visit and an information centre that explains how the area will look. The imposing walls are coming down, the frames of some of the old factory buildings are being retained in places.
“The homes we are offering at the moment are all new build but apartments will go on sale in the summer and three bedroom townhouses created from the original factory building will follow later in the year. We are keen for local independent businesses to take the commercial space and have a number of people that we are discussing the space with.”
The Visitor Centre and Marketing Suite, created in the old management offices of the chocolate firm, is open Thursday – Monday. To make an appointment call 0117 374 6600 or email enquiries@chocolatefactorybristol.com
