The Trust is delighted to have been given the green light to build a further eight apartments in its latest development, The Chocolate Quarter at the former Cadbury site in Keynsham.

Councillors approved the extra eight properties unanimously and noted that the additional apartments will provide an enhancement to the resident population that will make their homes within the complex in 2017.

For the charity, it represents a much needed additional financial input to the scheme, which represents an investment of £64 million by the Trust.

Councillors noted that a unique feature of the complex will be its connection to the wider community – not just on the former Somerdale site, but within Keynsham itself.

The complex will be an open community with facilities that will be inviting and welcoming to people from the local community. These facilities will include a restaurant and bar, which will be an attractive space for people to meet and socialise, serving excellent food throughout the day and evening. There will also be a spa within which visitors and residents alike will be able to enjoy a swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Adjacent to the retirement and care accommodation will be a separate block that will have a dedicated space for a doctor’s surgery, a pharmacy and lots of office space.

On top of the 250 jobs that will be created by the St Monica Trust within its own services, more jobs will be available in the commercial and office component of the development.

Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, David Williams said: “What we are planning here at The Chocolate Quarter is a new approach to retirement living, and we are grateful for the support we have received from BANES council.

“The apartments are being built to a high specification with great care being taken to give a feeling of being just like home. We take the view that there is no reason why our accommodation should feel any different from the kind of homes that are sold in mainstream property development.

“The difference with our development, however, is that any support or care that is needed will be brought to people on an individual basis – everything from adaptations to people’s living environments to the support they need will be individually tailored at the time they need it and will be delivered in as unobtrusive manner as possible.”

David adds that the Trust has already enjoyed the benefits of creating strong community links in its other retirement villages in Bristol and North Somerset – from six-course gourmet evenings, to water babies, space for a farmers market and musical events: “and as a mark of our determination to give The Chocolate Quarter a place within the wider Keynsham community, we will be one of the sponsors of the Keynsham Music Festival in the summer.”

A show home and marketing suite will open at The Chocolate Quarter in the summer of 2016. Anyone who is interested in finding out more should contact the St Monica Trust on 0117 949 4004.