Nice wee mention in Inside News Ireland for Raceview Mill Broughshane & Slemish Design Studio

Business hub planned for former Patton Group site

Plans have been submitted to convert an historic Ballymena textiles mill into a business hub with the potential to house 11 companies.

The proposals, which the owner of Raceview Mill in Broughshane said would “bring activity, employment and business back to the site”, have been lodged with Belfast City Council.

If approved, the Raceview Road development will have 11 enterprise units for start-up business use, along with a café and art gallery.

The application states that the mill’s owner “has an interest in arts and crafts”, and if the site was to become a business hub that “light industrial” services would “co-exist successfully” with residential use.

Other options outlined in the plans for the mill include a manufacturing plant, although this would include the demolition of the existing buildings.

Raceview also said the mill is “ideally” located to be used an as anaerobic digester plant which would create “some” jobs.

Ballymena architects’ practice Slemish Design Studios has been appointed by Raceview Mill to work on the designs for the potential development.

The site was originally built in 1806 as a linen mill and was converted into a woollen mill in 1893.

Raceview had been left vacant after the collapse of construction company the Patton Group, which was using the facility as an operations hub.

The 100-year-old company appointed administrators in November 2012 after experiencing “extremely challenging trading conditions”.

In November, the Belfast Telegraph reported that the mill was set to become a tourist attraction after it had been restored. It was also claimed that the site has the potential to create 100 jobs.

The new application is now pending consideration by Belfast City Council, which is currently undertaking consultations.