Buildings by Shrewsbury's Flax Mill start to come down
Demolition work to transform Shrewsbury's derelict Flax Mill has got under way – two weeks after the multi-million pound redevelopment was hit by delays.
The plan to demolish three buildings around the historic Maltings in Ditherington – which was due to start on September 18 – was put on hold while engineers carrying out the work completed final tests at the site.
But work has now started, with contractors EMS Services Ltd making headway with the Rexel Senate building, on Spring Gardens, which is the first to be razed to the ground.
The two other buildings to be demolished as part of the Shropshire Council project is the neighbouring former Midland Red Social Club and the former Arriva bus depot which was bought by the local authority for £2.3 million in 2011.
The demolition is the first phase of a major £18 million plan to restore the Flax Mill, which has lain empty for more than 25 years, to its former glory and regenerate the Ditherington area.
Project leaders want to see bars, restaurants, businesses, homes and arts groups created at the site, which is the world's first iron-framed building.
Alan Mosley, chairman of the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings, and Shropshire councillor for Castlefields and Ditherington, said: "The demolition work has started this week and already excellent progress is being made to remove the Rexel Senate building.
"I have spoken to EMS Services Ltd and they have reassured me that despite initial delays the work will actually be completed on schedule by the end of October and I'm really pleased work has begun.
He said that while the work was going on large protective boards had been placed around the sites to limit any disruption to nearby residents.
