March 19 2020

Vacant council offices in Paisley have been earmarked for high amenity flats in Renfrewshire Council’s latest push to re-densify the town centre.

The B-listed Kelvin House on Forbes Place enjoys open aspects across the White Cart River but has lain disused since 2009 following the departure of social work staff.

Now the authority is looking to offload the site to developer Nixon Blue which already owns the adjacent plot, site of the now demolished Institute nightclub.

Approved plans drawn up by Vellow Wood to turn this into 36 flats and a restaurant are already in place, with the hope that this can be extended to take in adjoining properties subject to planning.

Councillor Cathy McEwan said: "Earlier this year, the council unveiled A Vision for Paisley 2030 - which imagined what the town centre could look like in a decade - and central to that was the idea of new town centre living bringing life back to Paisley by helping drive new footfall to the surrounding traders.

"The initial proposals for this site are an example of how that Vision could be delivered on over the years ahead, and the various other town centre housing developments we've seen in recent years are proof Paisley is now recognised by the private sector as on the up and a great place to invest.”

7 Comments

#1 Posted by Robert Tannahill on 20 Mar 2020 at 09:36 AM

A Vision for Paisley 2030...
You could not make this up.
''Vision... Delivered... Private... Great Place... Invest..'
After building the Babel of Braehead?
Honestly? Seriously?

#2 Posted by IndyNoo on 20 Mar 2020 at 09:49 AM

This has to be a joke surely after Braehead was constructed? Glasgow City and Renfrewshire Council have a lot to answer for destroying their respective High Streets and now have the gall to try and save them 2 decades later? Numpties the lot of them. Out of Town shopping malls have desecrated the country.

#3 Posted by David on 20 Mar 2020 at 10:12 AM

Well with Braehead's owners on the verge of bankruptcy who knows...this restoration is a welcome proposal for Paisley.

#4 Posted by Chris on 20 Mar 2020 at 10:54 AM

Out of town shopping centres are dying. The same people they targeted have now drifted online.

#5 Posted by Mark on 20 Mar 2020 at 15:33 PM

#4 - Chris, that's a very good point, and soon we'll be left wondering not only how to regenerate the high street, but also out-of-town shopping centres. As #3 David mentioned, Intu will probably collapse soon. The comments here - https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/03/intu-brink-collapse-running-options/ - are worth reading.

#6 Posted by Luke on 20 Mar 2020 at 19:09 PM

#5 well if intu collapses I'm sure we can turn it back to useful farmland. Everyone wins!

#7 Posted by Robert Tannahill on 23 Mar 2020 at 10:33 AM

#3,4,5.

It takes a pandemic to put life into perspective.

The ''point' is that Civic Paisley High Street was in reality a dustbowl ghost town caused by the Braehead Development BEFORE Coronavirus.

Compare and contrast with some rough sleepers currently being given shelter in IHG hotels by City of London Mayor.

What's the link? Go figure. (Here's a clue: think shibboleths)

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