- European funding enables Stage I of project to begin -
Contractors will be on site at Shrewsbury Flax Mill Maltings from September
to begin Stage one of the project to regenerate the site.
Stage one will comprise of:
The conversion of the office and stables for use by the Friends of the
Flax Mills Maltings as a visitor and reception centre
The demolition of the 1950’s silo providing further external space for
cultural, interpretation and public use
Work on the demolition of the silo will start within the next month and is due
to be completed by the end of January 2015. Conversion of the office and
stables are due for completion by autumn 2015.
A funding package of £2.6m has been awarded to Stage one of the
Shrewsbury Flax Mill Maltings project to kick start regeneration. The
Department for Communities and Local Government have awarded funding
through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the maximum
amount of funding requested by English Heritage - £1,169,226. English
Heritage will provide the balance of the funds.
English Heritage announced they were taking the lead in the regeneration
of Shrewsbury’s Flax Mill Maltings in March 2014. They appointed one of
their senior managers, Tim Johnston, Planning and Conservation Director for
the West Midlands, to run the project for the first 12 months. He is devoting
his time to progressing the first stage of the project and creating a long-term
future for the Flax Mill Maltings.
The Flax Mill is the world’s first cast-iron framed building and is the forerunner
of the modern skyscraper.
Norman Price, Deputy Chair of the West Midlands ERDF Local
Management Committee said: “The redevelopment and restoration of the
flax mill will bring twin benefits to Shrewsbury. For local businesses, new
office space will be on offer and the local area will also see a cultural boost
from the development of the heritage asset. In the longer term there are
plans to create a visitor centre telling the story of the mill. History and future
economic growth can coexist !
This is a beneficial and imaginative development in the local area that has
been a long time in the planning. I am delighted that we are able to provide
ERDF funding and to finally see this become a reality.”
Tim Johnston, Project Director, Shrewsbury Flax Mill Maltings, English
Heritage said: “We are delighted the European Regional Development Fund
has committed £1,169,226 to this project. Shrewsbury’s Flax Mill Maltings is
the most important industrial building on English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk
Register and one of English Heritage’s top priorities. We are committed to
working closely with our partners, the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings and
Shropshire Council to bring this internationally important complex of buildings
back to life and stimulating the wider regeneration of the area.”
Alan Mosley, Chairman of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, said:
“This is the tremendous news we have been looking forward to for some time
now. We are delighted that we will have a visitor and community centre for
interpretation, exhibitions, learning, research and reception with new areas
of multi-use open space. There is great energy and activity in the project and
we are confident that this stage will kick-start the next vital regeneration stage
and we know that all partners are working hard towards that objective.“
Cllr. Mal Price, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for Housing
and Planning, said: “Shropshire Council recognises the importance of this
first stage of works on the Flax Mill Maltings site and are delighted that the
European Regional Development funds have been secured. The regeneration
of this internationally important site is a priority for Shropshire and we have
continued to provide officer time and support to help make this possible. This
first stage will certainly help unlock future stages of the site’s development.”