Construction complete at £23.8m acquired brain injury centre

Fit-out will now start at developer HBD’s York project, after contractor GMI handed over the 54,800 sq ft facility within the Chocolate Works.

The 54,806 sq. ft. building was delivered on behalf of Brainkind, formerly The Disabilities Trust, which works to improve the lives of people with an acquired brain injury.

In all, the centre provides 36 beds across four wards plus four assessment flats, alongside new courtyards and a therapeutic garden designed to aid recovery.

The building has been designed to EPC A and BREEAM Excellent standard. HBD, part of the Henry Boot group, said that emissions are expected to be 29% lower than the national building target emission rate.

HBD expects the facility to open its doors later this year.

The completion of the centre marks the final phase of HBD’s Chocolate Works scheme; a decade-long project that included the restoration of the former Terry’s Chocolate Orange factory and recently saw the Clock Tower transformed into apartments.

Tom Wheldon, head of region at HBD, said: “This has been an incredibly rewarding project to deliver – it’s a state-of-the-art, sustainable building that will help to set a new benchmark for brain injury rehabilitation, providing Brainkind with the facilities they need to continue offering the very best care and support throughout the recovery process.

“We’ve no doubt The Chocolate Works will prove to be an ideal location and it’s a very fitting scheme to conclude one of our most impressive and iconic developments.”

HBD works from six UK offices and has a £1.26bn development pipeline across industrial & logistics, urban regeneration and residential.