Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, Main Mill and Kiln Project Phase 1 - AWARD

Situated on the northern edge of Shrewsbury, the internationally-important Flax Mill Maltings site reflects a time when Shropshire led the way in engineering innovation. The site comprises seven listed buildings, including the Main Mill, which was built in 1797 and, as the world's first iron-framed building, is the forerunner to all modern skyscrapers.

After 100 years as a flax mill, the buildings were converted to use as a maltings in 1897. The site ceased trading in 1987 and became derelict.

English Heritage (now Historic England) bought the site in 2005 and carried out emergency repairs to halt the site's further decline, ensuring all buildings are secure and weather-tight.The Shrewsbury Flax Mill Maltings Project is Historic England's flagship rescue project. Working in partnership with Shropshire Council and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, Historic England completed an initial stage of the project in November 2015, when the new Visitor Centre was opened.

The Main Mill & Kiln Project is the next and largest element of the site's rescue and regeneration. This will see the full repair and restoration of the Main Mill and the adjoining Kiln, with a heritage centre on the ground floor and four floors of offices.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting the Project, with final confirmation of funding expected in January 2017. The Main Mill & Kiln Project is to be undertaken in two phases.

The current project, Phase 1, will focus on structural repairs and re-roofing of the Main Mill, with a contract cost of around £6-8m. Phase 2 will include the remaining repairs to the Main Mill and Kiln, with infrastructure, services, and fit-out, at a cost of around £15m.

Phase 1 is planned to go out to tender in January 2017 (after confirmation of HLF funding) with contract commencement in April 2017 and completion in October 2018. It is intended that Phase 2 will commence in November 2018 and complete in November 2020.