They have appointed one of their senior managers, Tim Johnston, Planning and Conservation Director for the West Midlands, to run the project for the next 12 months. He will be devoting his time to progressing the first stage of the project and creating a long-term future for the Flax Mill Maltings.

The announcement coincided with yesterdays visit by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester. Tim Johnston led a tour on which he outlined English Heritage’s hopes for the conservation and re-use of this historic asset. Whilst on the tour HRH The Duke of Gloucester met Dr Tim Jenkins, Heritage Projects Manager Shropshire Council and Cllr Alan Mosley, Chairman of the Friends of Flaxmill Maltings.

He also met children and the head teacher of Martin Wilson School and Early Years Centre who have been studying the building; previous employees of the Maltings and members of the Friends of Flaxmill Maltings.

English Heritage is currently drawing in key personnel to make the most of the potential funding for the project that is on offer, including £12.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and up to £6.6m from the European Regional Development Fund.

Tim Johnston, English Heritage West Midlands Planning and Conservation Director said: Shrewsbury’s Flax Mill Maltings is the most important industrial building on English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register and one of English Heritage’s top priorities in the West Midlands. I am delighted to be working on this project to secure a positive long-term future for the site.

Alan Mosley, Chairman of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, said: Our Board, Committee and volunteers have been greatly reassured by that fact that English Heritage has responded so quickly to move forward with this Project, and has already initiated work to establish an alternative strategy to utilise the funding previously achieved. We are highly confident that a regeneration and restoration project will be in place soon.”