New view of £30m plans for Flax Mill

This is the latest look at what a planned £30 million redevelopment of Shrewsbury's historic Flax Mill could be like.

New artist's impressions of the plans have been unveiled to the public by owners English Heritage. It was claimed last week the development could become a reality within "five or six" years.

The designs show the development could be made up of offices, a museum and up to 200 homes.

It is part of a masterplan for the 18th Century Flax Mill.

It proposes a "historic core" at the site, operated by a non-profit making trust, with a new public garden and a canal marina.

The building could include training rooms and offices and a "green corridor" following the line of the former Shrewsbury and Newport canal.

Councillor Alan Mosley, Shropshire Councillor for Castlefields and Ditherington, said he believed the site would provide a wonderful opportunity for the town.

He said: "The designers have been working hard on these plans and the images show the fabulous opportunities that lie within the Flax Mill complex."

He said he was pleased that all concerned "seem to be 100 per cent behind making the designs a reality".

More than 40 people turned out to see the plans going on show at last week's North East Shrewsbury Local Joint Committee meeting, even though the architects were unable to attend due to the weather.

The latest plans by architects Fielden Clegg Bradley show how existing buildings would be upgraded and brought back into use for commercial, educational, office or leisure use and how new homes and other buildings would be built on the land where the Arriva bus depot, Midland Red social club and former Salop Glass building currently stand.

Officials say between £9 million and £16 million of public funding will need to be found, but that other sources of funding are being explored, including Heritage Lottery Funding.

Councillor Mosley said the mill was of "monumental" historical importance and said he was confident that development could happen within the next five to six years.

By Andrew Morris