The Scottish Minister for Housing and Communities, Mr Alex Neil, will today visit the iconic site once occupied by Paisley’s most famous department store, to witness the demolition works and the start of a £4million project to restore Scotland largest town centre.

The project which is being spearheaded by a partnership company made up of Renfrewshire Council and Scottish property group, Park Lane involves the development of a four acre site in Paisley’s town centre which has lain derelict and boarded up since Arnott’s closed its doors to shoppers in 2003.

The site, which has already received a mixed use planning consent, was acquired in March this year by Renfrewshire Council assisted by private sector investment from Park Lane and a £1.83 million cash boost from the Scottish Government’s Town Centres Regeneration Fund. The regeneration funding package was one of the largest to be awarded by the Scottish Government.

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Visiting the development today Alex Neil said: "The Scottish Government has invested £1. 8m to support this flagship project in Paisley. Town centres are the cornerstone of communities across Scotland and are a key element of the economic and social fabric of the nation. Paisley is one of nearly 90 towns across the country that have benefited from this government’s £60 million town centre regeneration fund.

"Welcoming the Minister, Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay sommented: "Renfrewshire Council, with the help of our vision board partners and the backing of the local community, is determined to re-establish Paisley as a thriving university town, rich in heritage and an outstanding working, leisure and visitor destination.

"The Arnotts development is another important milestone in our ongoing regeneration plans for Paisley town centre."

Park Lane, which has successfully undertaken several major regeneration projects including Renfrew Riverside and Glasgow Harbour, has already appointed SGM as the retail agents for the site and Cooper Cromar as the main architects. Demolition will be carried out by Burnfield Demolition. The works are expected to continue for several months and will result in demolition of derelict and unsafe buildings with increased access to pedestrians, improved car parking facilities and other environmental improvements.

Commenting joint managing director, Brian Clarke added: "We are pleased that the first phase of enabling works are now starting on site. Over the next few months we will be working up a new master plan for the redevelopment and consulting with various local stakeholders on this."

(GK)