retirement village

st monica trust looks to the future

Cote Lane site. St Monica Trust

Cote Lane site, St Monica Trust

St Monica Trust is a long-established provider of retirement accommodation in Bristol offering over 55 flats on lease hold or a rental basis to long term nursing and dementia care.  They operate five sites in and around Bristol, with their Cote Lane site in North Bristol forming the hub of their activities.  The Cote Lane site, established in 1924 by the Wills family, now provides accommodation for over 320 residents in a range of fantastic buildings within a beautifully landscaped nine-acre site. The site also accommodates the Trust and over all the sites employs over 500 staff including care, hospitality and administrative functions.

gcp Chartered Architects have been appointed to develop a far ranging Five-Year Enhancement Plan for the site.  The Enhancement Plan is looking to upgrade many of the on-site facilities and create an ‘open retirement village’ where the gym, swimming pool, coffee shop, restaurant and hall are open to local people, schools and businesses.

The Trust is ambitious and is keen to future proof the site by ensuring it continues to provide sector leading facilities and standards of care. If approved by the trustees the works will be delivered over a five-year period starting in 2018.

During 2017, gcp supported the Trust with the development of B Block and Somer Dining, a restaurant forming part of the £60m Chocolate Quarter development in Keynsham.

chocolate quarter nears opening

Jeremy Pilling, Bruce French and Esther Brown enjoying pizza at BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

Jeremy Pilling, Bruce French and Esther Brown enjoying pizza at BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

Signage for BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

St Monica Trust have invested over £60m in the redevelopment of the former Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham (between Bristol and Bath) in creating a new retirement community, The Chocolate Quarter.  As part of the soft launch and pre-opening staff training, staff at gcp enjoyed a wood-fired pizza in B Block, the gcp designed bistro / bar that forms a suite of facilities open to the public.

B Block and sister restaurant, Somer Dining, will open on Monday 6th November.

Following on from their work at The Chocolate Quarter, gcp Chartered Architects have been appointed to develop A Five-Year Enhancement Plan for the Trust’s prestigious Cote Lane site in North Bristol, the jewel in the Trust’s crown.