£24m bid for new Paisley arts and cinema completx
Ambitious plans go on show to public today
Paisley Daily Express readers are being given a sneak peek of the new multi-million pound plans to transform a derelict site in Paisley into an exciting theatre, cinema and performing space.
Paisley Community Trust will today unveil its full plans for the site between Smithhills Street and Incle Street at a public event in the Piazza Shopping Centre from noon till 5pm.
Trustees Gary Kerr and Andy Campbell have been working on the project since 2014 and are excited to finally reveal their vision to the people of Paisley.
Gary said: “We’re inviting Paisley’s people to come and have a look at the work that’s been done and we’re excited to reveal it. It’s been a couple of years in the making.
“It emerged from Paisley: The Untold Story which launched the Paisley 2021 UK City of Culture bid.
“I’ve been talking about bringing a cinema back to Paisley for a while.
“We want to give a shout-out to the public and performers to come and join with us and see what we’re doing. We want them to help shape what we’re trying to do.”
The striking building echoes the Paisley skyline and the expected £ 24.7million build cost will transform the derelict space which is currently home to a car park.
It will include a flexible 500- seat theatre space, restaurant and cafe and five cinema screens with one 170-seat, a 120-seat and three 70-seat cinemas which will show blockbusters but also arthouse and niche films.
Gary said: “We’re looking for blockbusters but we’re not going to have them on every screen.
“It’s not a multiplex. We’d love to see the ABC Minors back on a Saturday morning and a Citizen Kane club in the afternoon for senior citizens. It’s about bringing the cinema back to Paisley.”
He added: “We want to change the impression people have of the town.
“We want them to come in on the train, see the lights and the activity that’s going on and get off in Paisley rather than stay on for Glasgow.”
Gary is keen to emphasise the wider concept around the plans, which have been put together by award-winning architects Stallan Brand.
“It’s not just a building, it’s a place to create a platform for the next Gerard Butler or Paolo Nutini or David Tennant,” he said.
“We want people to come here and learn their craft.
“We’re really proud of the work Stallan Brand has done and we’re very proud to reveal it to the public.”
The public exhibition which will reveal the full plans and design concept starts today at noon and continues till 5pm tomorrow.
See tomorrow’s Paisley Daily Express for more images and the full story behind the name of the new development.