A vibrant new activity and community space has officially opened within Ferguslie Park, Renfrewshire, following a £500,000 investment that transformed a long-term vacant area into a welcoming hub for local residents.

The project was jointly funded by Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme, and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Located on Bankfoot Road, the previously empty site has been brought back into use as a ‘sunken’ games and gathering space, bordered by a tree-lined central boulevard. The design also features a network of paths to connect to existing community facilities, as well as new lighting, drainage, and landscaping specifically intended to support local biodiversity. This completed space is the first key intervention as part of the Ferguslie Green Line, a crucial placemaking element of the wider Making of Ferguslie plan, which aims to reimagine underused land and create a new green corridor through the area.

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Local and national politicians praised the project for its community focus. Councillor Andy Steel, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, highlighted that the transformation is "not just about a physical transformation; it’s about giving people a sense of place and pride in their local area." Adding context to the investment, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes noted that the Scottish Government is providing £62.15 million towards regeneration in 2025-26 to support similar projects which revitalise town centres and transform derelict sites. Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh, also commented that the project "shows what's possible when government investment meets local ambition."

To celebrate the opening, pupils from Glencoats and St Fergus primary schools were among the first to enjoy the new green space. The Neighbourhood Centre follows a number of community-led improvements delivered through the Making of Ferguslie plan, which includes the transformation of Craigielea House into the Sculpture House artist studio and social space, and new growing spaces on previously underused land. The regeneration plan also complements the completion of 101 new council homes constructed on the site of the former St Fergus Primary School.