Retaining House facade examined by engineers
Engineers are examining how the facade of Kelvin House could be retained as its revealed a legal condition prevents any new building in front of the property.
Renfrewshire Council revealed plans to demolish the C-listed building in Marshall’s Lane last year, arguing it would not be financially viable to retain it.
The demolition would, officers argued, pave the way for the development of that site and restoration of the adjacent B-listed Forbes Place.
But councillors on the planning board earlier this year threw out the application, asking officers to assess the feasibility of retaining the facade of the James Steel Maitland-designed property.
And an investigation into the site by Paisley West & Central Community Council has since revealed that the land had a number of conditions attached to it when handed over the Paisley Common Good Fund.
One such condition states nothing should be built in front of the 1930s art deco building.
Willie Samson of the community council discovered the legal dispositions attached to the site.
Willie recently joined Duncan McIntosh – whose petition to save Kelvin House was signed by 700 people – in a meeting with Renfrewshire Council and Nixon Blue.
Duncan told the Express: “The new information that has come to light is that the land in front of Kelvin House is common good land which was given to the coucil with the burden that it must never be built on.
“The council can get a court order to sell the land but the burden would still be in place.
“In principle I think most parties at the meeting accepted that the facade would have to be retained in any new development.”
But he added: “We will have to keep an eye on what is proposed going forward, we are not out of the woods yet.”
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: “The developers Nixon Blue are our preferred bidder for the site, and they and their engineers are currently assessing the buildings to consider if it is possible for the frontage of Kelvin House to be incorporated into a redevelopment proposal for the site.
“We hope to be able to bring a report to the next meeting of the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board in May which will allow councillors to further consider the proposals for the site.”
Colin McIntyre, of Nixon Blue which redeveloped the nearby
Mill House, said the company was committed to further investing in Paisley.
He said: “Nixon Blue has been working with the council on investigating potential development proposals for Kelvin House/Forbes Place as part of a second phase and reimagining of this riverside location.
“However no formal planning application have been put forward to the council as yet.
“Following any decision by the council, we would look at the outcome and the potential feasibility of retaining the façade and share any proposals with the local community and elected members in due course.”
The consensus is that we would like to see the retention of the facade as part of that