Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski lobbies George Osborne over Flax Mill funding
Chancellor George Osborne understands the importance of regenerating Shrewsbury's Flax Mill, according to the town's MP Daniel Kawczynski.
Mr Kawczynski says he has continued his lobbying of Mr Osborne in an effort to secure multi-million funding to kickstart the project.
He revealed that he has also arranged for the project's manager to meet with Treasury officials in an effort to detail how much it will cost.
Mr Kawczynski said: "I had a very productive meeting with George Osborne about the Flax Mill and reiterated the importance of getting the funding through for this project.
"We have now agreed that I am going to bring Tim Johnson, the man leading the project for Historic England, in for official discussions with Treasury officials to go through exact totals of what is required."
Mr Kawczynski said that the Chancellor appreciated the potential benefits the project could have for the town.
He said: "Mr Osborne understands the historic importance of the site and he appreciates its unique importance, coupled with its possibilities for redevelopment with business and growth for Shrewsbury.
"He is positive about it because I think what he's particularly interested in is protection of historic buildings.
"This is something very significant.
"It breaks my heart every time I drive past that building and I see the dilapidated state it has been in since the 1980s. I have had enough and that's really why I am pushing hard for this."
The historic Ditherington site has been the subject of long-standing redevelopment plans with phase one - the conversion of former a stable block into a visitor centre to allow for tours of the site - expected to be completed in November.
Phase two of the project is designed to renovate the main mill, leading to the master plan intending to create homes, with some retail, and commercial space.
Funding of £12.8 million has previously been secured for the redevelopment project from the Heritage Lottery Fund, although an increase in costs meant the second phase of the project was put on hold last year.
The size of the shortfall has not been identified, although it was revealed earlier this year that up to £5 million needs to be found to decontaminate the Flax Mill site.
