Project manager appointed to lead Flax Mill regeneration plans
A new project manager has been appointed to help develop plans to regenerate Shrewsbury’s historic Flax Mill Maltings.
Elizabeth Perkins, who lives in Birmingham, will take up her new role in October 2012 and will work with the partners behind the regeneration plans – Shropshire Council, English Heritage and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings.
She is currently Director of Birmingham Conservation Trust, a charitable buildings preservation trust, that aims to help rescue threatened buildings of architectural or historic significance in Birmingham.
She is also an occasional lecturer in heritage management to postgraduate students at the University of Birmingham, Ironbridge Institute and Nottingham Trent University.
In May 2012, following a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for £12.1m, Shropshire Council, English Heritage and the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings were awarded a ‘first-round pass’ plus £465,300 of development funding.
In her new role Elizabeth will oversee and co-ordinate all of the development work that must be carried out before a second-round bid for £11.6m is submitted to the HLF next year. This includes an interpretation plan that aims to identify potential users, and the development of a business plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the buildings through a mix of public and commercial activity.
Elizabeth said:
“Ditherington Flax Mill is a hugely important historic building and the whole complex presents one of the biggest heritage challenges there is around at the moment. I was involved in an early scheme for the site over ten years ago when I was living in Shrewsbury but so much has happened since then. I am delighted to be joining the team who will be starting the transformation of the site over the next couple of years.”
Councillor Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economic growth and prosperity, said:
“We received a large number of high-quality applications for this role, but with her experience and knowledge Elizabeth was the outstanding candidate, and really impressed us at her interview. We’re now looking forward to working with her to develop our plans ahead of the second-round bid to HLF.”
Meanwhile, Lisa Cowley from Bilbrook has been appointed as Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings Manager, to help the Friends push forward their plans for managing the public access areas of the site, and manage a wide range of community and heritage activities while playing a key role in the overall development.
Alan Mosley, Chair of the Friends said:
“We are lucky to be able to appoint Lisa given her abilities, her great experience and record of success. After two years of significant achievements we need this kind of support to build our capacity to undertake future roles and to help deliver our exciting plans.”
Both posts are being funded from the £465,000 of development funding awarded by HLF in May this year.
