February 6 2023

A C-listed landmark in Paisley town centre is to be lent a new lease of life by Renfrewshire Council and Wellwood Leslie Architects following the release of grant funding.

The Liberal Club at 32 High Street has lain empty since 2016, during which time the grand has fallen into disrepair. Now £4.1m of public and lottery cash will be used to carry out facade repairs to the upper floors while the building owners, Jazz Chowdhary and Dr Jasmeet Singh of SC Investments, pay to repair the interior.

Cllr Andy Steel commented: “Bringing a historic building like this back into use is extremely complex – particularly where there are multiple owners in one location – and it has taken a huge amount of work from our officers to get the project to this point.

“This is a great example of how public money can unlock private-sector investment that may not otherwise have happened – the money we have brought in through our various external funders has helped get the owners into a position where they can do the rest.

“Paisley’s historic architecture is one of the town’s greatest features and over the past few years the Townscape Heritage/Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (TH.CARS) project has helped preserve large parts of it for future generations."

Planning permission has already been granted to turn the upper levels into apartments although other uses are being investigated. The grant supported element of the work includes roof and stonework repair as well as windows and guttering.

2 Comments

#1 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 6 Feb 2023 at 15:46 PM

Yet another example of public money being used to subsidies property owners who have let their buildings fall into disrepair. This building has been the worse for wear since the 1970s when it was still in use as the Liberal Club. Subsequent owners acquired it for a sum that reflected its condition and were content to let the building gently deteriorate. This wouldn't happen if every owner was liable to pay Annual Ground Floor and Roof Rent on their properties levied per square meter regardless of the state of the building . If owners couldn't make the buildings/land pay then they would soon dispose of them, and there would be a real renaissance of our town centres and empty spaces.

#2 Posted by Causeyside on 6 Feb 2023 at 20:33 PM

These two millionaire landlords will make a killing off this. Public money is essentially bankrolling the entire external refurbishment and roof. They'll lump in some dirt-cheap internals, cram in as many awkward flats as possible and rent it out for an obscene amount - not bad work for some.

Post your comments