BULLDOZERS this week began demolition of the former HQ of Renfrewshire council as regeneration of Paisley town centre continues.
Half of the dilapidated office block, which has been a town centre landmark for more than 40 years, has now been reduced to rubble.
After the rest of Renfrewshire House is razed by the end of the month and site debris cleared, work is expected to
begin in early April on a new housing development in Cotton Street.
A total of 137 new homes is planned for the site — 30 of them being described as "affordable"— with the remaining 102 flats
available to private buyers.
Behind the ambitious construction schedule is a partnership between Westpoint Homes and the Link Housing Group.
Phase one of their joint development, which under Holyrood's new supply shared equity scheme, has already received £1.59 million from Scottish government funding, will be the 30 two-bedroom affordable homes.
These may be offered on-plan from September ahead of completion, although no guide price has been disclosed.
For council leader Derek MacKay the demolition of Renfrewshire House was "symbolic. Today the 1960's municipality is coming down and being replaced with high-quality housing in the heart of Paisley.
"It is clearly symbolic of town-centre regeneration (a £14-million project) and shows the public that we are working hard at improving the area.
"Paisley is happening. Here we have a new residential development being built in the heart of the community".
Craig Sanderson, chief executive of LHG, said: "The fallout from the recession has meant there is a great number of people losing jobs.
"We prioritise housing for those on relatively-low incomes so they don't fall off the bottom of the ladder or struggle to make it on to the first step".
Councillor Derek MacKay added: "There is a great mix between the private and public sector. The social housing element of this newbuild will be high quality. The government funding has been a special ingredient to make the whole package work".
Chair of Paisley west and central community council, John Wilby, said: "We welcome any new housing in the centre of Paisley.
"But we have concerns that the new two-bedroom homes won't help the majority of families stuck on the waiting list."
