Councillor is confident Flax Mill development will happen

A Shropshire councillor today said he was confident of securing funding for a project to redevelop Shrewsbury's Flax Mill, despite losing out on a lottery grant of £12.7 million.

Councillor Alan Mosley said he was disappointed at missing out on the grant but predicted the money would be found from elsewhere.

Shropshire Council was planning to use the money for the conservation and redevelopment of the flax mill - the world's first iron-framed building.

Mr Mosley, who is also the chairman of the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings Group, said the bidding process had been oversubscribed, which was one of the central reasons the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) did not provide funding.

He revealed organisers will be meeting with the HLF later this month to discuss how new applications can be improved.

He said: "We are particularly disappointed given the massive show of support for our open weekend, where something like 1,800 people were involved in tours.

"I'm absolutely sure the massive international importance of the buildings means it will get the funding.

"It is the most important building in Shropshire and one of the most important in the world as the first iron-framed building and a forerunner of all modern skyscrapers."

Carole Souter, chief executive of the HLF, said: "The Ditherington Flax Mill Maltings project was excellent but we simply did not have enough money to support it on the day."