Engineering firm gets Flaxmill contract
One of the country's leading engineering firms will be working on a landmark Shrewsbury building while renovation works are carried out.
Mabey has been appointed to supply the main contractor on the Flaxmill and will supply the propping equipment for the project.
The scaffolding will be removed and the original window openings reinstated once the propping systems are in place.
The four-year renovation project will see multiple repairs to the building, including restoring the windows, brickwork piers and roof.
The Mill, which has been derelict for over 25 years, will be restored as a site of national heritage, with activity and learning space for tourists on the ground floor and new commercial space above.
Working closely with Croft Building & Conservation Ltd, Mabey’s role is to ensure the works are carried out as quickly and safely as possible while protecting the listed site. The company has provided four essential propping systems and a proprietary aluminium propping system to support the building works.
Stephen Hubbard, chief engineer, Mabey said: “It’s a real privilege for Mabey to be part of the team restoring this iconic building to its historic glory.
"The challenge for us is specifying and supplying the temporary works equipment needed to hold the frame whilst making sure the Mill, which has stood through two centuries, is protected. Our proven propping solutions are enabling these works to be carried out quickly, safely and efficiently, and we look forward to continuing our work with Croft Building & Conservation and Historic England over the coming years.”
Nick Hill, national conservation projects manager, Historic England, added: “This is a major project for Historic England – not just in terms of protecting a site of huge historic significance, but restoring the derelict “grandparent of skyscrapers” as a place that people can visit and explore. Thanks to the help of Mabey and Croft Building & Conservation, the restoration has been moving along brilliantly, and we can’t wait to see the end result.”
Oliver Chance, contracts manager, Croft Building & Conservation Ltd said: “This is a landmark project for all involved and it is an honour to be associated with such an iconic building. We have worked closely with Mabey and its design team to ensure that the structural integrity of the building is maintained whilst carrying out timber and brickwork removal. We are very much looking forward to the dismantling of the scaffold and seeing the Flax Mill and Maltings window openings reformed.”
The first phase of the renovation is expected to be complete by December 2018 while full restoration is expected to be finished in spring 2021.
