First residents move into The Chocolate Factory, Bristol

The first residents are now settling into their new homes at The Chocolate Factory in Greenbank, Bristol as the redevelopment of the former Elizabeth Shaw site takes shape.

For over 100 years the factory was the industrial heart and main employer in the area making liquor chocolates and mint creams to be sold around the world. For the last 16 years the site has been derelict after the chocolate makers relocated.

Among the first half dozen residents are the Garland family who sold their Victorian house in St Anne’s, Bristol, to move into a new three-bedroom terraced home at The Chocolate Factory.

Alex Garland, an account manager for a tech solutions company, works from home and he is delighted at their move to Greenbank.

He said: “Everybody around here seems so nice and there is a real community feel about the neighbourhood with letters dropping through our letterbox from neighbours and invitations to join in local activities and Whatsapp groups.

“As cyclists it is great to be just two minutes from the Bristol to Bath Railway path so we can cycle out towards Keynsham and Bath for a leisurely ride or into the city centre without being on main roads.

“St Anne’s was our first home and we wanted to move into something new that is low maintenance as we were fed up maintaining a 100-year-old house. The house is actually slightly smaller than our old house but I really like the open plan downstairs as it is easier to keep an eye on our baby Luisa while in the kitchen.

“We have explored the area and there are great pubs and places for brunch and we really like the Public Market for fresh fruit and vegetables and the Sweet Mart and other shops in St Mark’s Road. I lived in London at one time and this has the same feel as those fashionable London villages.”

Alex, his wife Lisey, daughter Luisa and dog Mel have bought in a new build section of the development by Generator Group South West. Apartments and townhouses in the former factory buildings, will also be created as part of 140 new homes, a central square and retail store and office units.

Alex and Lisey see themselves living in the house for a very long time and look forward to the day when Luisa will be able to walk to school at Whitehall Primary, just a few hundred yards away across the Railway Path.

Alex is now working from his new office in the third bedroom using the BT Fibre Broadband and settling into the friendly new neighbourhood.

For information on The Chocolate Factory go to www.chocolatefactorybristol.com