THEY have lain empty for a decade, but now developers are on the cusp of converting a piece of York’s industrial heritage into high-spec new homes.

Rowntree’s former Almond and Cream buildings on Haxby Road have not been used since around 2008, when Nestle moved production into purpose-built facilities further out on Haxby Road.

In the early 2010s ambitious plans were put forward to convert the buildings into a complex of homes, student flats, and offices. Those hopes fell through and the landmark buildings lay empty and disused until Ripon-based developers Newby bought the structures late last year.

A planning application is currently with City of York Council, and while they wait for a result, Newby invited The Press into the site to see what remains of a major piece of York’s chocolate history.

The buildings are in “remarkably good condition”, according to Newby’s Nick Moody, who said Nestle had looked after the site very well.

Newby bid for, but missed out on the former Terry’s factory on the other side of York, so were particularly pleased to get their hands on the Rowntree site, he said. The buildings are comparable sizes, he added, but the Terry’s buildings had suffered more from their time standing empty.

Much of the old Rowntree factory buildings have been torn down, leaving a large part of the eight-hectare site empty and parts of the remaining building clad in grey boarding to block up the old internal openings.

Inside, reminders of the factory’s past remain with signs for the physiotherapy, occupational health and even chiropody departments still visible, and “moth monitoring stations” still attached to the walls of the old production floors.

Newby’s plans are for 263 flats with storage for 288 bicycles and 173 parking spaces, as well as a new convenience shop and coffee shop on the edge of the site.

They plan to convert the Grade II-listed Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library into a concierge base and community room.

The planning application should be decided by the end of May, and if the approval is given, Newby plan to start work this autumn.