Developers have worked with Bristol City Council to ensure The Chocolate Factory in Greenbank, Bristol, will have a thriving community and the right mix of homes.

Generator South West is in the final stages of demolition of sections of the old Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory, with the transformation set to begin to provide 140 new homes, including shared ownership properties. The scheme will consist of 44 houses and 96 apartments.

Despite a ruling by the Planning Inspectorate following an appeal, planning was approved without any affordable homes on the site. However, the developers have worked over the last couple of years with the community, local councillors Afzal Shah and Ruth Pickersgill, and Cabinet Councillor Paul Smith and his team to get the right mix of homes for the area.

Generator South West has now partnered with housing association Yarlington to provide 15 one-bedroom and 21 two-bedroom high-quality shared ownership apartments alongside their own properties that will be available to purchase from the autumn.

Jason Schofield, development director at Generator South West, comments: “We are delighted to have been able to work in partnership with Yarlington to bring forward 36 affordable housing units as part of Generator South West’s commitment to the regeneration of the former Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory site.”

“This achievement is even more rewarding as the hard-fought planning permission did not require us to deliver any affordable housing at all. We have worked hard behind the scenes to bring to fruition these much-needed homes for the community of Greenbank as it is the right thing to do in this area. It’s another great example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together.”

He says Generator’s sensitively-considered design will respect the Victorian factory’s industrial heritage and, when complete, will place the site back at the heart of the Greenbank community.

In addition to homes, the development will provide services for the local community, including a dedicated community hub, starter units for businesses and a café/bar. The site also benefits from being directly opposite the Bristol to Bath railway path and future residents will be just a ten-minute cycle from the centre of Bristol.

Councillor Paul Smith, Bristol City Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing, welcomed the latest development at the factory. He says: “It’s great news that, despite a Planning Inspector’s decision that the site required no affordable homes, 36 will now be built at The Chocolate Factory, Greenbank. Bristol communities need a mix of homes to suit all.”

Since November 2019, Yarlington has partnered with Radian Group and Stephen Lodge, executive director of development and strategic asset management, adds: “Bristol is an expanding city and the need to provide more homes is becoming even greater.”

“It’s great to be working in partnership with Generator South West and Homes England to help deliver affordable homes by transforming a site that’s stood derelict for several years.”