Caerlee's future is in your hands
David O'Leary • Published 8 Jul 2011 09:30
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THE future of Caerlee Mill in Innerleithen is to go to public consultation.
Members of Scottish Borders Council's planning committee this week endorsed new draft supplementary planning guidance for the former Ballantyne's mill building.
The favoured option sees the original Brodie's Mill building retained with a number of others demolished, making the site suitable for several uses, including light industry, commercial and visitor accommodation.
It is hoped by the local authority that the move will provoke interest from developers in the largely vacant site as it has so far failed to attract any notable interest since the closure of the mill in January 2010.
The landmark site was occupied by JJ & HB Cashmere Mills - previously Ballantyne Cashmere - before the company was placed into administration with the loss of more than 100 jobs.
The administrators of the old company have been marketing the site for sale for some time and the council understands the next step could be for it to go to auction.
A new company, Caerlee Mill Ltd, which began operations at the former site in March 2010, is already trading albeit on it a smaller scale.
The business is run by former JJ & HB factory manager, Tom Harkness, and the venture is bankrolled by a previous JJ & HB Italian investor.
Interested parties now have six weeks to make their views known on the proposed redevelopment scheme.
Local councillor Gavin Logan said: "This great news for Innerleithen. The site has not attracted any prospective buyers and this guidance seeks to remove some of the uncertainty. There is a risk that if nothing is done the buildings will fall into disrepair and we don't need any more eyesores in Innerleithen.
"Once the short period of consultation is over the council will make a planning application and hopefully this will result in much more development interest.
"The preferred option of light industrial and commercial use along with visitor accommodation looks attractive and I hope the people of Innerleithen will respond positively and also bring forward any new ideas that they may wish to be considered."
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 08 Jul 11
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