9th November 2015

Alder King appointed on former Cadbury’s chocolate factory in Keynsham

Property consultants Alder King have been appointed by St Monica Trust to market up to 100,000 sq ft of newly refurbished employment space in Block C Somerdale, one of the landmark buildings on the former Cadbury’s chocolate factory site in Keynsham.

The Trust, which acquired all three historic red brick factory buildings earlier this year, has submitted a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council for the £50 million redevelopment of two of the blocks for 151 assisted living apartments and a 90-bed care home and the creation of up to 100,000 sq ft of employment space in the third block.

The proposal for Block C includes a GP surgery on the ground floor and five upper floors for office use.  Each floor enjoys large, open-plan and flexible floorplates starting from circa 15,000 sq ft per floor. 

The scheme aims to retain or replicate as much as possible of the building’s industrial heritage, including its distinctive floor to ceiling window profiles which provide excellent natural daylight and spectacular views in all directions.

By seeking to maximise the industrial heritage of the building, the development will provide the same type of character space as the successful Paintworks scheme in Bristol but on a much larger scale, says Alder King partner Simon Price.

“The proposed quality of the fit-out, the size of floorplates and the scheme’s proximity to the local amenities of Keynsham including the railway station will make this one of the most distinctive commercial locations outside Bristol and Bath.”

Work on St Monica’s residential and commercial redevelopment of the site is due to complete in spring 2017, subject to planning.  Taylor Wimpey is currently developing 700 new homes as part of its £34 million development of the Somerdale site.

The factory was constructed in the 1930s and closed in 2011 after Cadbury was taken over by US food giant Kraft.