Flax Mill work may start next year

Work on the £30 million project to transform Shrewsbury's historic flax mill could start as early as next year if all planning permission and funding is given the go ahead.

Urban Splash, the company appointed to develop the 18th century mill, is currently working on designs and hopes to hold a community event to exhibit the artist impressions later this year.

Steve Sanhan, of Urban Splash, today said: "It's a very challenging site with unique difficulties and we are using that to inform the design process.

"The original designs are being tweaked and we will have something to show people later in the year and get some feedback."

But Mr Sanhan said there were still a number of hurdles to jump through such as getting historic building planning permission and funding.

He said: "We would like to have it finished by 2014 but it's something we cannot say yet because it has not been designed yet."

County Councillor Alan Mosley, who is a member of the steering group for the flax mill, said: "I recently attended my first meeting and it is clear that a realistic scheme is in the pipeline and it will bring massive benefits to our area.

"As this is such an important building there is much cost involved in conservation work and there's an obvious challenge in putting a funding package together."