Trust celebrates Millstream topping out
A topping out ceremony to mark reaching the highest point of the St Monica Trust’s latest development has taken place.
Millstream at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham will offer an additional 44 independent living apartments and complete the Bristol-based charity’s £60 million redevelopment of the former Somerdale Factory.
Due to open in Autumn 2025, Millstream will be a mix of one and two-beds, with 18 apartments being affordable housing units for residents nominated by Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Tree-dwelling spirits
Representatives of the St Monica Trust, RED Construction and KWL Architects, were joined by guest of honour, Jane Lucas who came up with the winning suggestion in a naming competition held among residents at The Chocolate Quarter.
Jane accepted a ceremonial silver trowel from RED Construction on behalf of the Trust and helped lay a commemorative foundation stone.
The tradition of the topping out ceremony stems from the Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits disturbed by its construction.
Older people at the heart of their communities
Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, David Williams, said: “As the first and only retirement village in the UK with facilities and services that place older people at the heart of their local community, it is fitting that one of The Chocolate Quarter’s original residents named the building that will complete our redevelopment of the Somerdale site.
“With the Trust celebrating its hundredth anniversary next year, we hope that what we are creating here today, along with The Chocolate Quarter and our stewardship of the Somerdale Pavilion, will continue to benefit older people and the Keynsham community for the next one hundred years.”
Operations Director for RED Construction South West, Grant Millar, said: “The topping out at Millstream is a great moment to celebrate the progress of what will soon be a really important asset for Keynsham, and the residents who will live here.
“We firmly believe in the positive legacy quality construction can create for a place and its community - that’s what inspires our work in Bristol and across the South West, and it's been a privilege to work with the St Monica Trust on this prestigious project because they clearly feel the same way.”
Millstream’s marketing suite and show home will open in early 2025. To register your interest in St Monica Trust’s Millstream development, please call 0117 949 4004 or email sales.team@stmonicatrust.org.uk.
