A WEST Devon architect, Adrian Mitchell from Bere Ferrers, has secured a major £6.5-million new dairy design project in Misurata, Libya.

Mitchell Architects with a staff of 15 and based in Plymouth, specialise in the design of food industry projects of this nature.

Its clients have included many of the major manufacturers in the UK with facilities in the West Country, including Ginsters based in Callington, Dairy Crest at Davidstow and Milklink in Crediton among others.

They now have one member of staff based in Libya, with the likelihood for further expansion there with a new cheese production plant and a juice production facility lined up for the future. 

Mr Mitchell, having worked for many years in southern Africa, found it easy to secure the contract despite not speaking the Libyan language.

But because of the technical nature of the work, it can be done anywhere in the world, although having an English-speaking client does help!

As part of this project, he has had to spend time in Dubai and Ljubljana in Slovenia, working with specialist companies based in those countries, which has meant considerable travel from Plymouth and Exeter airports.

Mitchell Architects' work in Tavistock includes the residential development for West Devon Homes on the old Carrs' Garage site and the extension to Drake Lodge, now under construction off Plymouth Road.

They were also responsible for the refurbishment of the Avon Farmers building for Lawsons, some years ago along with various housing projects in the area.

RIGHT: On site at Al-Naseem in Misurata with Adrian Mitchell on the right and the engineers on the left with his colleague Mervyn Stewart, wearing the hat.