An historic part of York’s chocolate heritage could be transformed thanks to a glass house café and community pavilion.
Last year, YorkMix reported plans to upgrade the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library at the former Rowntree factory site on Haxby Road with a glass extension.
And a modern community pavilion was to be built behind the library.
The buildings would provide a café, work space and community activity area for residents, as part of the wider Cocoa Works flats development.
Now a new architectural vision has been put forward for the project.
“These proposed amendments have come about following a project review, with a keen focus on improving both visitor and residential amenity whilst enhancing the surrounding landscape,” say Weedon Architects.
The main change to the library plans “involves moving the concierge into a more prominent location within the glass house extension to welcome visitors and residents when entering via the main boulevard,” say planning documents.
“The Cocoa tree has also been repositioned into a central location as a focal point, providing a backdrop to the concierge.”
The roof design is the main change to the modern community pavilion.
The Joseph Rowntree library is Grade II listed. These plans “will secure the future of the building and bring it back into use instead of standing vacant and subject to vandalism and further decay,” the architects state.
“The proposed use as an entrance and workspace for residents is sustainable and also appropriate to the building’s history and former purpose.”
You can read the full plans here.
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