THE Chocolate Works Care Village off Bishopthorpe Road is to open its second floor to residents earlier than planned.

The development in the former Terry's of York site offers residential, nursing and specialist dementia care in the iconic building.

The £10m restoration of the practically derelict site was the brainchild of Springfield Group CEO Graeme Lee whose vision of a care village for the citizens of York and the surrounding area has quickly become a reality.

The vast central double height glazed atrium has been preserved and transformed into a marketplace setting for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, complete with a café, restaurant, spa, hairdresser, gym and its own pub, The Duke of York.

A large roof terrace gives uninterrupted views across York towards the Minster, adjoining race course and across the rest of the chocolate works site.

Graeme Lee, Group CEO said: “I can’t tell you how pleased I am with progress at The Chocolate Works.

"Thanks to our dedicated and professional team of nurses, carers and ancillary staff we are opening the second phase of this unrivalled care environment much earlier than planned.”

The complex will eventually be home for over 100 residents housed in the 82 care suites and eight luxury care apartments.

The Care Village will also provide around 120 new jobs with a range of skills required and with the aim of providing training on site wherever possible.

In addition Springfield plans to create specific apprenticeships for young people across the range of services that a care village of this scale needs to provide.

Springfield Healthcare is a Yorkshire-based, family run social care provider and this year celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It is supported by the Business Growth Fund, which is set to invest over £20m over the next three years.

Springfield represented the first project in Yorkshire to attract finance from the Business Growth fund (BGF) and was also the BGF’s first healthcare project in the country.