A former Nestlé chocolate factory is set to be transformed into blocks of flats as part of an urban renewal project that will create 1,386 new homes on the site and rename it Hayes Village but more importantly, will let you live out your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dreams.
Whilst the site doesn’t have any chocolate rivers, oompa loompas, nut-testing rooms filled with nut-testing squirrels or a glass elevator that takes you up as high as the clouds, the redevelopment will be keeping some of the historical features of the chocolate factory and is shaping up to look like some pretty sweet digs, if you ask us.
The chocolate factory formerly called Sandow’s Cocoa Works, located in Hayes, was built in 1913 and owned by Eugen Sandow, an eccentric man who had a passion for chocolate and bodybuilding. Originally from Germany, Sandow was renowned as a bodybuilding champion and claimed that chocolate was the source of his strength, leading him to set up his chocolate factory and create his own supplement called ‘Sandow’s Health and Strength Cocoa’.
In 1929, Nestlé took over the factory becoming the first factory outside of Switzerland to manufacture Nestlé’s Milkybar. Over the following years, the factory underwent expansion which included the building of an Art Deco entrance built in the 1960s – a feature that remains visible to this day. Other historical features being kept include the original staircase and south façade of the main factory building. What’s more, historic factory machinery and artefacts will be integrated into the apartment buildings to retain their original character.
The site has been closed to the public for over 100 years with the regeneration project hoping to celebrate its heritage and unique history. In December 2023, a mural celebrating the life of Eugen Sandow was unveiled on the site. Joseph Antoniazzi, Director of Sales and Marketing at Barratt West London said: “Historic brownfield sites, such as disused factories, often represent an important part of the community’s history. We believe it is important to celebrate the factory’s unique history by allowing the building to play a significant role in the community’s future.”
Hayes Village is due to be finished in 2027. Along with creating over a thousand new homes, the project will also bring over three hectares of public open space, a 1.3km trim trail, and open up 300m of canal footage, 2,000 cycle spaces, electric vehicle charging points and extensive landscaping.
Find out more here.