The Chocolate Quarter, Charterhouse Care Home Keynsham

Charterhouse Care Home is located within Block B of the Former Cadbury’s Chocolate factory buildings in Keynsham.

Originally the home of Fry’s Chocolate, and more latterly Cadburys, the buildings were part of a site acquired by Taylor Wimpey SMT purchased the site and KWL Architects were appointed to develop a scheme to create a state-of-the-art non-gated Care Village.

The development comprises of three inter-connected blocks, A, B and C. Block B has a 93 Bedroom Care Home accommodated over three floors above the converted and extended aground floor level which provides all the communal facilities including restaurant, bistro, bar, hairdressing, Barber shop, swimming pool, physiotherapy, fitness centre, cinema, pottery, woodwork & arts studio, and chapel. Above the Care Home are an additional two floors of accommodation providing 30 assisted Living Apartments.

Each floor level has been designed enabling two 12 bedroom suites to function and operate independently of each other. The design and layout of the home and particularly its day space is focused on providing the residents with an experience of the highest quality. All bedrooms are naturally lit via the original apertures of the new fully glazed factory windows, ‘family’ kitchens and lounges are similarly lit through large areas of glazing.

All residents can enjoy fresh air with the use of large balconies at the end of each suite, in addition to this between blocks A and B roof top terraces over the new links provide first floor gardens to the Care Home with large spaces for relaxing, gardening and BBQs. With the home occupying three levels above the ground floor views to the surrounding countryside.

The Chocolate Quarter enjoys a commanding location in the heart of Keynsham and as SMT’s first intergenerational development is open to the local community and wider public. This project is one of the first of its type in the UK.

The project has been a huge success for our client and was officially opened by HRH Princess Royal on the 13 th April 2018 and has attracted both national and international interest and since been shortlisted for the 2018 Housing Design Awards.