Historic Flax Mill Restored as Shrewsbury Office Space

Shrewsbury's Flax Mill Maltings are to become the centre of a major redevelopment project. The world's first iron-framed structure is to undergo a £12.8 million redevelopment over the next three years.

A grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will see the Grade I listed buildings, including a mill, kiln and stables be re-purposed as dedicated office space.

The redevelopment project has been described as 'much needed'.

The mill was operational for a century, from 1797 to 1897, before being re-purposed as a maltings until 1987.

The three-year project will see it opening as office space in 2007, in what will be the next chapter in the building's rich industrial tapestry.

Alan Mosley, chairman of the Friends of Flaxmill Maltings, described the grant as "fabulous news".

"Apart from protecting and opening up our internationally-important heritage to the public, the grant will bring tremendous - and much needed - investment, jobs, services, community facilities and hence, regeneration, to the area," he said.

The plan began in earnest in 2005, when English Heritage took over the mill site and drew up a redevelopment scheme with Shropshire Council, the Friends of Flaxmill Maltings, and the Homes and Communities Agency.

Reyahn King, of the Heritage Lottery Fund, called the funding an opportunity to "celebrate and reuse our industrial past".

Long-term plans include 120 homes on surrounding land, though this is not included in the first stage of development. An exhibition space, outlining the mill's rich history, is also to be constructed.