Plans for a £26 million innovation centre in Ballymena are beginning to take shape.
The project, which has been put forward as part of the regeneration of the former St Patrick's Barracks site, is moving forward with local councillors developing a comprehensive Outline Business Case (OBC).
At the recent meeting of the Council's City Deal Elected Members Working Group, Alderman Audrey Wales MBE revealed the progress, with the OBC set to be submitted to the Treasury this summer.
Through Belfast Region City Deal, the first phase of the innovation-led regeneration scheme will see the development of a next generation science park at the site. The proposed 'Integrated Industrial Inspiration and Innovation Campus', i4C, will be developed specifically to meet the needs of local businesses and potential entrepreneurs in target sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
"The development of i4C will give our most rapidly growing business sectors such as advanced manufacturing access to cutting-edge technologies and expertise, supporting them to build capacity, fuel growth, bring new products and services to market and attract inward investment," Audrey Wales MBE said.
Councillor Timothy Gaston added: "We see this vital project as key to securing Mid and East Antrim's future as a regional hub for innovation and advanced manufacturing.
"Our proposals include substantial investment at the former St Patrick's Barracks site in Ballymena, with the innovation-driven regeneration of the key site to support economic growth and create jobs.
"The first phase of this project will involve the creation of an i4c digital innovation space and advanced manufacturing capabilities."
(CM/MH)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
20/11/2024
MDE has been awarded the electrical services contract for the Clondalkin School Development Project in Dublin. Working alongside Cunningham Contracts Ltd., the company will serve as the specialist electrical contractor for the construction of new facilities for Gaelscoil na Camóige, Gaelscoil ...
20/11/2024
In celebration of European Week for Waste Reduction, the Northern Ireland Resources Network (NIRN) has launched an environmental education programme to promote zero-waste principles among young people. Three schools from the ABC Borough—St Francis Primary School in Lurgan, St Patrick's Primary ...
20/11/2024
Work has begun at hospital sites across Northern Ireland as part of preparations to eliminate car parking charges by May 2026. Health and Social Care Trusts are installing the necessary infrastructure for a new traffic management system, following the passing of the Hospital Parking Charges Act by ...
20/11/2024
Fine Gael has accused Sinn Féin of abandoning its commitment to protect consumers from rising energy costs, claiming that the party's policies could lead to increased costs for 2.1 million customers. The criticism comes after Sinn Féin's alternative budget last month proposed retaining the ...
20/11/2024
SDLP Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Patsy McGlone has urged Minister Andrew Muir to take decisive action to protect the environment, rather than launching additional reviews. The comments came after Minister Muir announced a review into environmental governance during an ...
20/11/2024
Alliance Strangford MLAs Kellie Armstrong and Nick Mathison, along with Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly, recently visited the tidal research experiment at Queen's University Marine Laboratory (QML) in Strangford. The project, funded by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE), is ...
19/11/2024
Phoenix Energy has been awarded an international standards accreditation from the British Standards Institution (BSI) in recognition of its inclusive service approach for customers in vulnerable situations. The certification highlights Phoenix Energy's commitment to providing fair, flexible, and ...
19/11/2024
Seating Matters is investing £3.7 million to enhance and improve its manufacturing facilities in Limavady and L'Derry. The company is aiming to support its bold strategy to triple revenue by 2027. Making the announcement while visiting the company's Limavady site Economy Minister Conor Murphy ...
19/11/2024
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has urged the Minister and the Executive to take immediate action to address problems within Northern Ireland Water. Mr Durkan warned that the current state of the wastewater system is creating significant delays for infrastructure projects across ...
19/11/2024
Galway City Council will hold a public information evening on affordable housing on Monday, November 25, 2024, from 4pm to 8pm at the Connacht Hotel, Old Dublin Road, Galway. The event will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about how affordable housing operates. Council staff will be ...