Town has potential for world class hub
Praise for ambitious Paisley arts and cinema plans
Final plans for a new £ 40million performing arts and film theatre for Paisley will be unveiled in September, the Paisley Daily Express can reveal.
Paisley Community Trust is behind the ambitious plans and is currently discussing early-stage concepts and plans with awardwinning architects Stallan Brand.
The plans are being shared with key organisations to gain feedback and support.
And Paisley Development Trust – the organisation behind several prominent regeneration projects including The Russell Institute in Causeyside Street – has given its backing to the plans.
PDT chairwoman Marie Connelly said: “Pa i s l e y Community Trust’s early stage plans are exceptional and have the potential for creating a world class facility for Paisley.
“We strongly believe this facility has the potential to have a major positive impact on the continued regeneration of the town.
“Not only is Paisley Community Trust planning the building, they are paying careful attention to how the community will get involved and use the facilities, both indoors and outdoors. “That is really important to us. “We wholeheartedly support their plans. It is exactly what the town and our communities need.
“We also hope to partner with them on a key element of the scheme.”
PDT was founded back in 2014 by businessman Gary Kerr, computer games entrepreneur Andy Campbell and David Wallace, from PACE Youth Theatre.
Final plans for the £40m project have still to be firmed up, but they are thought to include a flexible main theatre, secondary studio theatre, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, dance studios, several unique cinema spaces as well as bar and restaurant facilities.
In addition, the plans will feature significant external landscaped public spaces with a range of uses.
A number of sites have been shortlisted with a preferred option emerging.
Gary Kerr, chairman of Paisley Community Trust, said: “In our engagement with key stakeholders in the town, it was critical that we spoke to the Paisley Development Trust.
“They have valuable knowledge and expertise in engaging with communities and regeneration in the town.
“We’ve been delighted with their feedback which has given us great confidence that we are on the right track.
“It’s great to have them onboard and we look forward to working with them.”
We strongly believe this will have a major impact on the regeneration of the town Paisley Development Trust