DEVELOPERS have revealed their plans for former confectionery buildings that have stood empty in the north of York for years.

Newby have put in a planning application for 263 new apartments homes in the almond and cream buildings of the former Rowntree works in Haxby Road.

The company bought the buildings from Nestlé late last year.

They have now revealed plans for 263 flats, a convenience shop and part of a new link road, and confirmed the listed Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library will become a concierge base for the flats. They had initially indicated they would create 283 flats.

Nick Moody, founding partner at Newby, said: “We love the building and all that it stands for and, after detailed consultation with the local public and other key stakeholder groups that gave 98 per cent positive feedback, we feel that our proposals make the most of its potential.

“The design seeks to preserve the structure, and external features such as the memorial library, clocks, railings and covered walkway, whilst providing a revised internal configuration to provide new homes that are much-needed in the area.”

The Cocoa Works scheme will see the buildings, which date from the early 20th century, converted into a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments over six existing floors and a roof-top extension.

There will be a new 4,000 sq ft convenience store, storage for 288 bicycles and 173 external parking spaces as well as landscaped areas in front of and behind the building.

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Mr Moody added: “The apartments will vary in size, making the most of the high ceilings and large window features for individual appeal.

“Unusual for most schemes, we have taken care to include plenty of storage and all apartments will benefit from superfast broadband.

“We have also incorporated a dedicated concierge facility which will be located in the former Grade II listed Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library.”

Subject to planning consent, Newby spokespeople said they hope to start work by November with a phased delivery programme over 30 months, and the first apartments could be on sale as soon as summer 2018.

Architect Ben Otter, of Sheffield-based Axis Architecture, said last month the old factory buildings were in remarkably good condition for structures that had been empty for 10 years.

In 2010, Nestlé was given planning permission for full-scale redevelopment. Technicalities meant that the permission was never formalised, and Newby’s plans are for only a portion of that site, leaving land behind still vacant.

A planning application has already gone in for an access road to the site, reigniting hopes that it could be extended when the rest of the site is developed, to create a bus link between Haxby Road and Wigginton Road.