Taking the lead Historic buildings get new life
COUNCIL LEADER IAIN NICOLSON
I think we can all agree that the heart of Paisley’s town centre is its historic buildings.
One thing about historic buildings is that they need a lot of work to maintain them or bring them back into use.
The council’s plan to revitalise iconic buildings like the Town Hall and the Paisley museum is nearly complete but sometimes private owners need help too.
That’s where the Townscape Heritage/Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme 2 (TH. CARS2) comes in.
It is a £4.1million programme paid for by the council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, with extra money coming from the Scottish Government’s Place-based Investment Programme.
The Liberal Club on Paisley’s High Street is the latest historic building to benefit from TH.CARS2.
It’s been a feature of the town centre for over 130 years but it’s been empty since 2016.
Now the council and the building’s owners are working together to restore the C-listed building to its former glory.
The scheme will pay for repairs to the roof, stonework and windows and also new downpipes.
The building’s owners are funding repairs to the inside of the building.
While they have planning permission to turn the upper floors into flats, other uses are being explored.
Since 2016, TH.CARS2 cash has supported major repair projects at 5 George Place, 20 New Street (Vienna’s nightclub), the upper floors of 2-3 County Place, 41 High Street (Right-way Credit Union), 9 Gilmour Street, 10 Shuttle Street and the Sma’ Shot Cottages.
Six projects to help owners restore historic shop fronts have also been completed, with two more currently on site - in the vacant unit at 18 High Street and at 63a (Nomads Café).
A final two are due to start this year, including one at 67 High Street (Houston’s Kiltmakers).
While we recognise how important it is to look after our heritage, we are also very much looking to the future as well.
Our Planning and Climate Change Board has given the green light to a series of new routes between the town centre and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).
New transport links include: a 1.7km riverside route from Abercorn Street to Inchinnan Road, a road bridge at the former Paisley harbour, an east-west road from Renfrew Road to the bridge crossing, a dedicated walking and cycling along all new routes and an underpass for walking and cycling at Renfrew Road into Gallowhill.
Improving walking and cycling routes is a key part of the project.
The underpass beneath Renfrew Road to Gallowhill Road will create better connections from the east of the town into West College Scotland and the new Paisley Grammar School.
AMIDS is going to be the new home of manufacturing innovation in Scotland.
It’s really taking shape and it’s crucial that as many people as possible can access the jobs and opportunities it is bringing to the area.
This project will connect communities either side of the river to their employment and education and enable businesses to grow by improving access for customers and suppliers.