Have your say on future of west end
Council wants your views on transformation of area
David Campbell
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Two consultation events taking place next week will give the public a chance to discuss the proposals.
Drop-in sessions are taking place on Monday from 2pm to 4.30pm and on Wednesday between 4pm and 7pm at the ROAR: Connections For Life club at 5A Underwood Lane, Paisley.
These events will give members of the public the opportunity to find out more about the draft masterplan for the area, taking in Well Street, Underwood Lane, Clavering Street East, Sutherland Street, Oakshaw Brae and West Brae.
Council staff will be on hand to talk through the proposals to redevelop existing land and provide a mix of private and social housing. Proposals may also include some new commercial units, subject to demand.
Tenants, residents, businesses and landowners directly affected by the proposals are all being invited to the consultation events and will also be offered a face-to-face meeting.
Members of the public in the wider area are also urged to attend the events and have their say on the emerging vision and the draft proposals.
These include the demolition of tenement flats on the east side of Well Street, commercial ground floor properties in the tenement blocks and demolition of vacant residential blocks on Clavering Street East to make way for the new housing.
Councillor Mags MacLaren, SNP member for Paisley North West, said: “I welcome this long-awaited proposal as it will result in improved housing within Well Street and the West End of Paisley.
“I would encourage all residents and local businesses to get along to one of the consultation events to listen to the proposals and make sure their voice is heard.”
The masterplan also proposes clearance of the vacant former University of the West of Scotland halls of residence to build housing, with homes also planned for land behind Well Street and Sutherland Street, relocating the temporary Growing Grounds project on Sutherland Street.
Council officers will also meet with community representatives, including Paisley West and Central Community Council and Paisley West End Tenants and Residents Association, as well as the University of the West of Scotland and private landowners.
This is the first stage of consultation on the draft masterplan and feedback from all the consultation events and meetings will be considered and presented to the council’s communities, housing and planning policy board in autumn 2017.
Renfrewshire Council prepared the draft masterplan in conjunction with Sanctuary Scotland, which is the council’s housing association partner, and a consultant team led by Macmon Chartered Architects.
Separate to the masterplan, Sanctuary Scotland is also looking to redevelop the former Co-Op site on Wellmeadow Street, just south of the masterplan boundary, into affordable housing.
If the draft plan is approved in its current format after the consultation process, any residents affected by the proposals would be supported by the council to find suitable alternative accommodation.
Council officers will also work with affected business owners and tenants to determine their preferences and potentially source available alternative premises that meet their aspirations.
Costs to deliver the masterplan are being developed and will be informed through the consultation process and site investigations of the undeveloped land.
Scottish Government grant support for the project would be brought forward through Renfrewshire’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan ( SHIP), which includes a £10 million provisional allowance.
SNP Councillor Kenny MacLaren, who also represents Paisley North West, added: “It’s been a while since the original proposal was put out to Sanctuary Housing to bring forward some details, so it’s good that there is now something in the public domain which residents of Well Street can look at.
“Obviously, I would hope that existing council tenants and businesses would have a higher priority when it came to any new social housing and new business units within the area but in general terms the plans look promising.”