Paisley and Renfrewshire Development

[bestbud]

Was in Gilmour St station today. That roof sure makes a big difference. The place will be cracking once the decoration is done.

[Quirinalian]

I had to stop off in the station and wait for about half an hour recently on the to-Glasgow platform. It was 9pm on a weekday and the place was deserted. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to sit and it was utterly freezing.

The "waiting room" which existed had a number of metal chairs cordoned off for no good reason to stop access to a lift. The three that weren't cordoned off were exceptionally uncomfortable and the room was more or less open to the elements.

[bestbud]

The place is still very much a building site - still lots of finishing to be done. Believe the decoration is about to commence soon (if not already). We're you not impressed with the roof though?

Half an hour for a train to Glasgow? Boy, that's seriously unlucky!

[RapidTaco]

Originally Posted by Quirinalian

I had to stop off in the station and wait for about half an hour recently on the to-Glasgow platform. It was 9pm on a weekday and the place was deserted. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to sit and it was utterly freezing.

The "waiting room" which existed had a number of metal chairs cordoned off for no good reason to stop access to a lift. The three that weren't cordoned off were exceptionally uncomfortable and the room was more or less open to the elements.

Glad you enjoyed it

[Homer86]

Does anyone know what is happening to the old great mills site at the bottom of Renfrew Road? Been a lot of work going on the last few weeks.

[jobsenski]

Originally Posted by Homer86

Does anyone know what is happening to the old great mills site at the bottom of Renfrew Road? Been a lot of work going on the last few weeks.

I really don't know Hommer but its starting to look a lot better! there was call ding starting to go on at the far right hand end this week and whilst its not exactly going to blow you away its far better than anything thats been there / around paisley before.

It looks although the unit has been broken down into 4 or 5 smaller units? maybe large retail units like the kind that are 1/2 a mile up the road at B & Q?

[schemie]

Visiting this part of the world is an increasingly bleak experience. Bleaker, even, than before the old bleakness was torn down and removed. At least then, change was inevitable and potentially exciting.

This is not exciting. This is low pay, unskilled, zero hour contract jobs for all and an opportunity to reimagine the town's identity - the town centre - declined in favour of a soul-sucking shed. Welcome to Tesco Linwood - a satellite town of Braehead Shopping Centre...

Here's the website:
http://www.tesco-linwood.com/update/...tesco_linwood/

[Quirinalian]

Originally Posted by schemie

Visiting this part of the world is an increasingly bleak experience. Bleaker, even, than before the old bleakness was torn down and removed. At least then, change was inevitable and potentially exciting.

This is not exciting. This is low pay, unskilled, zero hour contract jobs for all and an opportunity to reimagine the town's identity - the town centre - declined in favour of a soul-sucking shed. Welcome to Tesco Linwood - a satellite town of Braehead Shopping Centre...

Linwood is a hole. It's a settlement with no redeeming features whatsoever. Unfortunately as we do not seem willing to completely abandon towns, there's not a lot to be done other than supply a reasonable number of relatively poor jobs.

The problem is that change has never really happened. The car factory - which hardly ever turned a profit - left and nothing of note replaced it. There was certainly no excitement to be had.

[Pious Fraud]

Paisley office block set for student transformation

Urban Realm 27th August 2012

A derelict office block in Paisley is in line for refurbishment after FreshStart Living submitted plans for its conversion to new student accommodation with an end value of £7m.

Gilmour House, owned by NewRiver Retail, is a five storey mid-sixties office block located above the Piazza Shopping Centre. It is being redesigned by Greenock based Canata & Seggie who will subdivide existing office space to form 235 study bedrooms, 196 of which will be en-suites.

FreshStart Living specialise in repurposing redundant and under-valued office stock into affordable homes and student accommodation.

Greg Roberts, acquisitions manager at the firm, told Urban Realm: “Paisley is a great town with a fantastic heritage and we have been very impressed with the proactive support received from Renfrewshire Council.

“Gilmour House benefits from its proximity to the University of West of Scotland’s campus and its location in the town centre is a further bonus for students. Easy access to the public transport network, with both train and bus stations next door, makes this a very attractive place.”

Tom Johnston, president of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “I’m pleased that, after a number of years on the market, Gilmour House will have a new owner.

“Leaving it vacant is not beneficial to anyone and changing the use of derelict property to benefit the local community provides an efficient way of invigorating town centres.”

It is hoped that consent could be granted by the end of October and be ready for occupation in time for the 2013 academic year.

http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3702/...formation.html

[bestbud]

Seems to be a positive move. Along with the new flats overlooking the abbey, schemes like this will hopefully attract people into the town centre out of office hours.

[Quirinalian]

Originally Posted by bestbud

Seems to be a positive move. Along with the new flats overlooking the abbey, schemes like this will hopefully attract people into the town centre out of office hours.

A fair point. Paisley town centre should theoretically be ideal for attracting people at all hours: concentrated centre, excellent transport links etc. Unlike most towns of a comparable size in Scotland, however, I can't think of even one particularly appealing spot for nightlife in Paisley.

Those flats overlooking the Abbey are depressing. Such an important site, such mediocre buildings.

[bestbud]

Originally Posted by Quirinalian

Those flats overlooking the Abbey are depressing. Such an important site, such mediocre buildings.

I can just about live with the front elevation (albeit they are hardly inspiring) but the rear render is going to look pretty grim pretty quickly.

[Quirinalian]

Originally Posted by bestbud

I can just about live with the front elevation (albeit they are hardly inspiring) but the rear render is going to look pretty grim pretty quickly.

I've not had the pleasure of viewing their rear-end. Oddly enough, I had a strange fascination for the old overgrown 1970s concrete jungle that used to lie in front of the council buildings. Whilst I've never been a fan of Brutalism and its derivatives as such, it's always held a strange appeal.

When I initially heard about the site becoming available I thought it was a spectacular opportunity to do something really special for a place which really should be the centrepiece of the county. Perhaps I was always going to be disappointed!

The council HQ recladding and renovation next door is, however, probably the best we could get whilst retaining the original structure, so fair play to the local authority on that.

[jobsenski]

Originally Posted by Homer86

Does anyone know what is happening to the old great mills site at the bottom of Renfrew Road? Been a lot of work going on the last few weeks.

Apparently its going to be a row of retail units, and BnM homestores is already confirmed as one of the tenants. Should be open by Christmas according to a local councillor.

[Pious Fraud]

BBC Pictures Of Scotland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19589010



'Paisley town hall under renovation...'

Photo by Brian McGuire

[Pious Fraud]

Johnstone civic hub work commences

Urban Realm 9th October 2012

Work to construct a new £14.5m town hall and civic hub for Johnstone has commenced with the demolition of an existing swimming pool in the town.

In its place Renfrewshire Council will build a library, theatre, marriage suite and community space as well as office space for consolidation of existing services.

Landscaping work including planting, paving and new street lighting would also be put in place around Ludovic Square in the vicinity of the hub.

Clad in stone with wooden interiors the development will house an inner ‘street’ from which various council service can be accessed.

Councillor Allan Noon, said: “This innovative proposal has the opportunity to transform Johnstone town centre.

“In addition to a new town hall, the civic hub will bring together a range of existing and new public services, making it a local point for the community.”

A planning application for the new civic hub is expected to be submitted later this month with completion pencilled in for December 2013.

Renfrewshire Council are conducting initial design work before handing over the baton to Holmes Miller.

'This swimming pool is being demolished to make way for the scheme'

http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3786/...ommences_.html

[Pious Fraud]

Linwood Sports Hub plans progress

Urban Realm 20th November 2012

Plans to erect a new sports hub in Linwood have hit a key milestone with the demolition of the town’s community centre, part of a wider plan to reconfigure the provision of local community services.

Linwood Community Sports Hub is costed at £19.6m and will contain an adult day care centre, three swimming pools, an eight court sports hall, studios, fitness suite, café, refurbished synthetic pitch and an upgraded athletics track and grass pitches.

Whilst welcoming the new facilities Jeanette Anderson, chairperson of the Linwood Community Development Trust, has voiced concern at the demolition of the old community centre.

Writing in the groups community action plan Anderson said: “Although the new Sports Hub was welcomed by the people of Linwood, they believed that fragmenting the 1000+ services-users of the existing Community Centre into the new Sports Hub and other venues throughout Linwood, would have a negative effect on the quality of life for hard-to-reach groups and would also breakdown the intergenerational work currently experienced.”

Designed by Cre8 Architecture and built by BAM the scheme has earned its contractors a Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 92.5%, ranking it in the top 3% of 10,000 UK sites inspected each year.

The Sports Hub is due for completion in Spring 2013.

Urban Realm

[Homer86]

I hope they link the sports centre to the near by cycle path, would be a missed opportunity if they don't.

[Homer86]

Paisley bus station plans seems to be gathering momentum with backing mcgills buses MD and msp George Adam

http://www.paisley.org.uk/paisley-bus-station/

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk...7085-31960761/

[bwbw]

Originally Posted by Pious Fraud

Linwood Sports Hub plans progress

Urban Realm 20th November 2012

Plans to erect a new sports hub in Linwood have hit a key milestone with the demolition of the town’s community centre, part of a wider plan to reconfigure the provision of local community services.

Linwood Community Sports Hub is costed at £19.6m and will contain an adult day care centre, three swimming pools, an eight court sports hall, studios, fitness suite, café, refurbished synthetic pitch and an upgraded athletics track and grass pitches.

Whilst welcoming the new facilities Jeanette Anderson, chairperson of the Linwood Community Development Trust, has voiced concern at the demolition of the old community centre.

Writing in the groups community action plan Anderson said: “Although the new Sports Hub was welcomed by the people of Linwood, they believed that fragmenting the 1000+ services-users of the existing Community Centre into the new Sports Hub and other venues throughout Linwood, would have a negative effect on the quality of life for hard-to-reach groups and would also breakdown the intergenerational work currently experienced.”

Designed by Cre8 Architecture and built by BAM the scheme has earned its contractors a Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 92.5%, ranking it in the top 3% of 10,000 UK sites inspected each year.

The Sports Hub is due for completion in Spring 2013.

Urban Realm

I'm currently one of the Engineers on this project so can submit some more progress photo's if you like, give you a feel for the place!