£20 million work starts on Shrewsbury Flaxmill

Historic England has revealed that the work, which is part of stage two of the Ditherington site’s regeneration, will start with the Main Mill.

It will then move onto the Kiln, landscaping and the car park.

This phase of the restoration has a budget of £20.7 million and will see the former mill and kiln transformed in to four floors of commercial space, with a cafe and an ‘interpretation and learning space’.

The tender for the work has been awarded to Croft Building and Conservation and the work on the main mill is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.

The efforts of the partnership behind the project, Historic England, the Friends of Ditherington Flaxmill, and Shropshire Council, have already seen the creation of a visitor centre in a former office and stables, which opened in November 2015.

Once the next stage of the project is complete, Historic England has said it will look at the ‘master plan’ for the development, which could include the creation of homes on the brownfield land contained in the site.

Councillor Nic Laurens, portfolio holder for economic growth for Shropshire Council, said: “It’s great news that work to restore the impressive and internationally important Grade I Flaxmill and Grade II listed Kiln is about to start.

“Bringing these two buildings back to life has been the greatest challenge for the partners, but the impact they will have on completion should not be underestimated.

“The site will be transformed.

“We are really grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the significant funds required to progress the works.”

Last week, Alan Mosley, chairman of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings said: “After many years of hard work we are absolutely delighted that this vital project is finally going ahead.

“We are also very proud that our efforts have finally been rewarded.”