Lead contractor appointed for Flax Mill Maltings redevelopment work

A lead contractor has been appointed to carry out the first phase of redevelopment work at the Flax Mill Maltings site in Shrewsbury, if a £12.8m bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is successful this summer – with local businesses being urged to express an interest in helping with the work.

Wates Construction has been appointed by Shropshire Council following a competitive tender process in which businesses were invited to bid for the Flax Mill contract.

Applying over 40 years of experience in heritage restoration, Wates is now poised to start work on site in September 2013 if the HLF bid is successful.

Until the HLF decision is known, Wates will contribute to the project design process.

The bid to HLF has been submitted by Shropshire Council on behalf of the partners behind plans to bring these internationally-important buildings back to life – Shropshire Council, English Heritage, the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings, and the Homes and Communities Agency.

This first phase of work aims to restore and bring back into use some of the main historic buildings. These include the Main Mill – the world’s first iron-framed building – the Kiln, the Dye and Stove House and the Office and Stables.

The site would be opened up to allow people to visit and learn about its long and interesting history, and space would be provided for business and commercial use.

Though Wates will be the lead contractor, a proportion of the work at the site will be sub-contracted out and local and small businesses who are interested in being involved in the redevelopment of the site are being urged to register their details with Wates at Flaxmill@webshare.wates.co.uk where all enquiries are being scheduled and reviewed.

Until September 2013, Wates will work closely with the project’s design team to gain good understanding of the project, contribute to the design work, and prepare for the construction phase.

As well as delivering the construction works, Wates will be establishing a local Visitor Centre; and working collaboratively with the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings during the construction phase to manage public access to the site, and the community elements of the project, including guided tours, heritage open weekends, educational visits and visual recording events.

Situated on the northern edge of the town, the internationally-important Flax Mill Maltings site reflects a time when Britain led the way in engineering innovation. It comprises seven listed buildings, including the Main Mill, which was built in 1797 and is the world’s first iron-framed building and the forerunner of the modern skyscraper.

Andy Evans, head of economic growth and prosperity with Shropshire Council said:

“We’re pleased to have appointed Wates as the lead contractor for this hugely important project. We received a number of excellent bids for the work but Wates greatly impressed us with their application and we’re both looking forward to work starting on site, if our funding bids are successful.

“Both Shropshire Council and Wates are committed to, wherever possible, using local businesses and local people to help in the regeneration of the Flax Mill Maltings and we encourage anyone interested in finding out more about subcontracting opportunities to contact us.”

Andy Hands, Business Manager for Wates Construction in the Midlands, commented:

“We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to deliver the careful restoration of the world’s oldest iron-framed building – a project to which we have and will continue to apply our extensive expertise in heritage restoration. We are looking forward to starting construction later this year and will spend the coming months in consultation with local sub-contractors to ensure that this is a truly local project for local people.”

Further information

Sub contracting opportunities will exist in the following areas:

• Masonry
• Carpentry
• Roofing
• Cast-iron specialism
• Architectural metal work
• Glazing

Plant suppliers
Cranage; operated plant; generators; tyre repairs

Materials suppliers
Aggregates; concrete fixings and concrete accessories; builders merchants; timber and plywood; joinery / doors; ironmongery; fabricated metalwork / secondary steelwork; signage; reinforcement.

Wates Construction
Established in 1897, Wates is one of the UK’s largest family-owned construction services and development companies employing over 2,367 people. In 2011 Wates received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, was the Winner of BITC Company of the Year award and attained Investors in People Gold status.