Art hub bid for old fire station
Plans submitted to create performing space and cafe
One of Paisley’s most neglected buildings could be given a new lease of life as an arts venue and cafe.
Charity Outspoken Arts has lodged ambitious plans with Renfrewshire Council to transform the former fire station in Paisley’s Gordon Street.
Under the proposals, the ground floor of the B- listed building would become a performing space and cafe bistro, with a small extension to the rear for office space.
After lying empty for years, work started in April to restore the building, with Paisley based Fereneze Developments Ltd carrying out work to bring it back into use.
It is believed the upper floors of the historic building will be turned into flats and offices.
Now Outspoken Arts, which is an LGBT charity based in Glasgow, aims to provide a top-class arts venue in the heart of the town.
A cafe will accommodate 104 diners, with a stage to the front of the building, according to plans lodged with the local authority.
Ingram Architecture and Design has drawn up the innovative plans, which are described as “vintage with contemporary insertions”.
The design statement notes: “The proposals would include the use of the venue as a daytime cafe and social enterprise, with evening uses as a performance venue for music, spoken word, screenings and exhibitions.”
“The use of the building as an arts venue is also important to the bid currently underway to make Paisley City of Culture 2021.”
The architecture firm hopes to keep many of the historic element of the old fire station, which was sold to developers in 1992.
The corner- site Victorian building was, for many years, the town’s fire station.
According to the Buildings at Risk website of the Register for Scotland, in 1992 the then owners Strathclyde Regional Council put it up for sale after using is as store in recent years.
Following a number of attempts to refurbish the building and put it into use, it had deteriorated badly.
By November 2013, the building was put up for sale at auction through Auction House Scotland at a guide price of £50,000-plus.
It sold soon afterwards, and full planning permission and listed building consent for conversion to office space were conditionally granted in April and May 2015.
A decision on Outspoken Arts’ planning application is expected by January 9 next year.