Revamp bid for Shrewsbury's Flax Mill still 'very much alive'
Multi-million pound plans to regenerate Shrewsbury's historic Flax Mill remain "very much alive" despite delays to the scheme, a project leader has said.
Alan Mosley, chairman of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, said it was good news English Heritage had agreed to take the lead in running the project from Shropshire Council, which remains a project partner.
The change follows new costs for the project being drawn up. It is understood that higher than expected cost estimates have forced a rethink of what can be achieved with the money available.
A £12.8 million grant from Heritage Lottery Fund was confirmed last summer, while £6.6 million has been made available through the European Regional Development Fund.
It had been hoped this cash would kickstart a major project that would include transforming the main mill, the world's first iron-framed building, into a space for employment and commercial uses, creating about 300 jobs.
Project bosses had previously announced their intention to turn the bottom of the main building into an exhibition space detailing the history of the site which was expected to to become a tourist attraction bringing in 100,000 visitors a year.
English Heritage is now examining amended plans for the regeneration work with no clear date on when construction will start. The main restoration work was originally due to begin in earnest on site this month with the entire first phase being completed by April 2016.
But it was revealed last month that contractor Wates Construction had left the site with work suspended, while project manager Elizabeth Perkins had also left.
Mr Mosley said:
"There is a need to review the phase one project so that funding can be maximised with the best possible outcomes for conservation, regeneration and community.
"However, the good news is that the project is still very much alive and the funders are still on board.
"Above all it is good to report that English Heritage have now taken over from Shropshire Council as the project managers. They have already set up a powerful project board and I am delighted that the Friends will be party to that."
