500 signatures reached
To: Renfrewshire Planning Board and the building owner, the JR Group.
Save the Paisley TA Building
We ask Renfrewshire Planning Board to refuse Listed Building Consent to demolish the former Territorial Army building (Application 24/0749/LB). We ask the Council to require the building owners to re-erect the scaffolding supporting the facade which they took down in early October. They should continue to market the property at a time of improving prospects for development the town centre.
Why is this important?
The TA Building was built 1896-7 on Paisley High St to the design of Paisley's foremost architect of the time, TG Abercrombie. It is one of the best of the 38 listed buildings by him. Following a fire in 2020, the owners, the JR Group, supported the remaining front and side walls with scaffolding. But in early October 2024 it removed the scaffolding. It applied on 18th October for permission to demolish the building, claiming it is 'urgently necessary in the interest of health and safety'. However, the structure appears to be stable; and even if masonry were to fall, it would not endanger the public because the walls stand well within its site boundaries.
The TA building is a much-loved part of the town centre streetscape. It complements the A listed Museum and Coats Memorial Church between which it stands. Its loss would undermine the sense of confidence in Paisley's future which is returning with the major investments in its town hall, museum, arts centre and central library. The prospects for restoration of the TA building are supported by:
- The reopening in 2025 of the restored, improved and enlarged Paisley Museum;
- The large flat site behind the building on which 'enabling development' could be built (a proposal for conversion and redevelopment providing 26 flats was permitted in 2007);
- The excellent open outlook of the property south to the university campus, west to the Coats Memorial Church, and east to the public open space of the museum;
- The success of the Council's policy of encouraging town centre living, aided by a reduction in its requirements for on-site parking;
- The growing attraction of Glasgow home seekers to Paisley due to relative house prices, the attractive environment, and the proximity to Paisley Gilmour St station, the third busiest station in Scotland.
How it will be delivered
We will inform members of Renfrewshire Council's Planning Board before they meet on 21st Jauary 2025 to decide whether to permit or refuse permission to demolish the TA Building. They will be told the number of signatories, how many of them live in Renfrewshire, and be given them representative comments received. This information will also be given to the local newspaper.
