The St Monica Trust has officially opened Millstream, a new 44 apartment development offering independent living for older people at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham.

The opening of Millstream completes the Bristol-based charity’s £60 million redevelopment of the former Cadbury’s Factory into an award-winning retirement village.

The new development offers a mix of one and two-beds, with 18 apartments being affordable housing units for residents nominated by Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Residents at Millstream will have full access to all the facilities available at The Chocolate Quarter, including Somer Dining, the cinema, craft studio, gym, health spa and pool.

The exterior of the new development features a landscaped community garden between Millstream and the Somerdale Pavilion, plus a new entrance to the Pavilion car park off Trajectus Way.

The opening was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Millstream residents and representatives of the St Monica Trust, Bath and North East Somerset Council, RED Construction, RLB, KWL Architects and EP Studios.

Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, David Williams, said: “The opening of Millstream fulfils our original commitment to provide social housing for the local community, as we do at all of the Trust’s other retirement villages.

“The Chocolate Quarter is internationally recognised as a model of best practice and the first retirement village in the UK with facilities that are open to all. The fact that we can now extend that offering to include social housing reflects the Trust’s continuing commitment to creating open communities where older people can flourish through connection, contribution and choice.”