The York Council is set to approve plan to turn the former Terry’s clock tower into 22 apartments.

The plan – to be considered on 5^th January – also involves providing space for a museum and associated car parking.

It is proposed to convert the building for residential use incorporating 19 one, two and three bedroom apartments within the existing building and a further three within the northern roof top extension (to the boiler house) which would be executed in structural glazing.

The upper clock chamber has been made over by the applicant to provide a museum and viewing space to provide interpretive material in respect of the development of chocolate manufacture at the site. The clock would also be reinstated.

The Clock Tower comprises a substantial brick and art stone detailed, Grade II Listed, structure with an attached two storey boiler house.

It occupies a prominent location within the Terry’s/Racecourse Conservation Area. It formerly acted as a chimney and boiler house to support the manufacture of chocolate and confectionery at the Terry’s site from construction in the 1920s until manufacture ceased in 2006.

Officials say, “The building is on the “Heritage at Risk” register. Unfortunately no commercial or leisure occupier has been found to “save” the building in spite of a long and extensive marketing exercise. The height and configuration of the accommodation, its location within the body of the site, and the cost of essential repair-work have been cited by potential occupiers as reasons for lack of viability for a commercial or mixed use scheme. The over-riding consideration is finding a new use that would sustain the heritage significance of the building”.

“The scheme would rescue this building at risk which is a much valued and prominent York landmark”

Only eight objections to the proposal have been received by the Council although one is from the Civic Trust.