Grant scheme is changing the face of town centre A £3.5m council project to transform a historic area of Paisley is literally changing the face of a busy town centre street by revamping its shopfronts. A £3.5m council project to transform a historic area of Paisley is literally changing the face of a busy town centre street by revamping its shopfronts. The Townscape Heritage Initiative/Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme has made big changes to the Causeyside area of Paisley over the past three years. The Renfrewshire Council-run scheme includes funding to reinstate and restore traditional features on the shopfronts of retail businesses within the project area. Work is already complete or almost complete on seven Causeyside Street shops, with contractors on site on an eighth, and work set to start on a property in Forbes Place in the new year. Councillor Bill Brown, deputy convener of the council’s Planning and Property Policy Board, visited three of the firms – Mr Kebab, Wm Phelps butchers and Dragon Aquatics – to see the work for himself. He said: “It was great to meet the shopkeepers and hear how this investment in the historic architecture of Causeyside Street is helping their businesses. “The council has put the town’s physical and cultural heritage at the heart of our regeneration plans, which will see a series of major projects leading up to a bid for UK City of Culture status in 2021. “Paisley town centre has a built heritage to be proud of – with the second-highest concentration of listed buildings of anywhere in Scotland. “Schemes like this ensure that heritage is kept alive and looking at its best for future generations to use and enjoy.” Jamie Peacock, of Wm Phelps butchers, added: “The shopfront looks terrific, it’s made a big improvement and customers have been commenting on it. “The shops have all been done in the same style as others in the same street, so they all look the part.” The THI/CARS scheme is funded by Renfrewshire Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland. Completed work has included £1m public realm works around Causeyside and Johnston Streets, as well as a £500k revamp of two B-listed buildings, Paisley Arts Centre and the tenement at No 43 Causeyside St. It has also taken in a programme of community benefit schemes, including a three-day arts and crafts workshop allowing young people to design artistic banners, now being displayed along Causeyside St. For more information, email [email protected] or call 0300 300 0144.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:36:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015