THE first images have been revealed of a £7 million care village which will be built on the old Terry's chocolate factory site in York.

Springfield Healthcare have already got permission to convert the building in Bishopthorpe Road into an 82-bed care home with eight "extra care" apartments. Now the developers have published the first artists' impressions of how the care village will look once it is up and running in March 2017 - with covered market square and glass atrium, and painstaking restoration of the historic building.

Springfield’s CEO, Graeme Lee, said: "Springfield has a real vision and passion for this building and we are delighted that York planners have enabled us to bring it back to life.

"It has been falling into disrepair for some time and gets costlier to put right with every month that goes by.

"For once, older people will be a key and central focus of the regeneration of this whole site and they will be able to play a very active role in the new community environment created as a result."

Plans for the listed building, which was built in 1926, will its unique features restored including the original management offices and laboratories where new confectionary was created and tested.

Designers say a covered two-storey market square with new mezzanine level will form the centrepiece and social hub of the building. With trees, walkways, street lamps, shop fronts and outdoor-style cafes and restaurants, the space will be open to the public at certain times.

A single storey roof top extension will be added with a roof terrace and rooms with raised floors so residents have uninterrupted views across York towards the Minster.

Architect Tony Whethan of Archial Norr said: "The building was in a terrible state of repair and needed someone with vision and determination to create a viable commercial use for it.

"The design ethos has been to save, retain and renovate wherever possible with intervention kept to an absolute minimum."

York-based contractor Simpsons, who has just finished the refurbishment of York Art Gallery, has just been appointed and is due to commence meaningful works from January 2016.