Plans have been unveiled to create a new learning and cultural hub on Paisley High Street.

A currently-empty retail unit at 22 High St has been earmarked by the council to become a new modern community facility to house the town's library collection.

Despite original plans to demolish the building and erecting a new structure while retaining the existing listed façade, further investigations have revealed a new solution based on a comprehensive refurbishment of the current building, which can be done within the project's set budget.

Once finished, the facility will replace the current Paisley Central Library which will leave its current location next to Paisley Museum in September when the museum closes for a £42m revamp project.

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Both projects are being delivered as part of a £100m investment in the town's venues and infrastructure.

Designs for the new learning and cultural hub will now be produced by the project team, while further site investigation works will continue over the summer. Construction is expected to start in late 2019.

Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “When completed this building will deliver a first-class learning resource for future generations of residents.

"Paisley is blessed with some stunning heritage buildings - but the downside is that can make them complex to revamp - which will be the case with this site.

"The building had previously been privately owned and will need a lot of work to get the interior into the right condition for this project - but we are confident we now have a solution which will do that.

"The benefit of having that on the High Street - other than bringing an empty unit back into use - is we drive footfall and new life to heart of the town centre, which will hopefully benefit traders.

"The project is just one strand of the programme of investment in our cultural facilities which is at the heart of the wider plan to transform the area's fortunes by harnessing our unique cultural and heritage story."

(LM)