MORE details have emerged of a major housing development on former chocolate factory land, including a long-discussed new bus link.

The new road between Haxby and Wigginton Roads, running through the old Rowntree factory site, will only be open to buses, bikes and pedestrians.

It is part of a housing development by Ripon-based company Newby under the name Cocoa West.

Although Newby submitted a planning application early last month, it only last week saw the supporting documents validated and published.

Those documents show a long-discussed bus-only link road through the site is still on track. Access roads are planned off both Haxby Road and Wigginton Road, but no through road.

A planning statement adds: “Whereas the main street will establish a physical connection between the eastern and western ends of the site, access between the two will be restricted to buses, pedestrians and cyclists only.”

The plans include 118 three and four bed houses and 307 one, two and three bed apartments, as well as a convenience store, a creche and new outside space.

The site is split into three parts - a northern portion between the new access roads and the existing Nestle factory with a mix of townhouses and apartments; a south-western quarter dominated by three to four bed terrace and mews family housing; and a southern strip between the family homes and old factory building which will contain apartment blocks and a few townhouses.

The plans also show many of the blocks will include underground car parks, while there will also be a new central square with children’s play area and a “Railway Halt Square” where the new development meets the Sustrans cycle route.

Newby is also behind plans for the conversion of the former Almond and Cream buildings on the site, but the fresh planning documents reveal that site has been handed to a sister company and changes are planned.

As previously reported, the company says it has worked closely with Nestle, the city council and people in the area, and the plans include open space, community facilities, parking and small scale commercial uses.