British charity the St Monica Trust has broken ground on the Block D section of the £60m redevelopment of the former Somerdale Factory in Keynsham, UK.
The trust appointed UK-based RED Construction Group’s South West division as its preferred builder for this redevelopment project.
RED Construction South West managing director Derek Quinn said: “We are looking forward to delivering this community net-zero carbon scheme and providing a lasting legacy for Keynsham, Bristol.”
The redevelopment of the former Somerdale Factory will come to its conclusion with the completion of Block D's construction.
Block D at The Chocolate Quarter Retirement Village will be built on the vacant property opposite the Somerdale Pavilion. It will be a five-storey structure featuring 44 independent housing units, which will be classified as carbon net zero.
These 44 units will be a mix of one and two-bedroom floor plans, out of which 18 units will be kept affordable for residents specifically selected by Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The design features off-street parking for cars and bikes, new landscaped walking lanes between Block D and the Somerdale Pavilion, and a new entry to the pavilion car park off Trajectus Way.
St Monica Trust Board of Trustees president Tim Ross said: “This exciting redevelopment of the former Somerdale Factory and the additional investment in Keynsham reflects our commitment to build communities where older people can flourish, alongside our promise to provide affordable housing.”
Construction work is set for completion in September 2025.
St Monica Trust CEO David Williams added: “The building of Block D not only marks the completion of the trust’s redevelopment of the former Somerdale Factory, but it also fulfils our original commitment to provide affordable housing for the local community, as we do at all our other retirement villages.
“The Chocolate Quarter was the first retirement village in the UK with facilities and services that were open to all. The fact that we can now extend that offering to include affordable housing is a wonderful way to further serve the local community, which has always made us feel so welcome.”
