Renfrewshire Council has won £850,000 from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to push forward the next stage of upgrades at Johnstone town centre's Houston Court precinct.

The award advances the Johnstone Town Centre Vision, a long-term strategy shaped with the local community to remake Houstoun Square, Houston Court and Ludovic Square as the town's social and cultural heart.

Work is already under way: the empty units at 38 and 56 Houston Court are being refurbished, and the vacant supermarket at Houston Court is scheduled to be demolished this summer.

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The government funding will deliver two new commercial buildings on part of the former supermarket site, a reconfigured layout for parking and public spaces, and landscaping to create a new green link between Houstoun Square and Ludovic Square.

Councillor Andy Steel, Convener of the Economy and Regeneration Board, said: "I am pleased we've secured £850,000 Scottish Government funding to make improvements to the Houston Court precinct, in line with plans developed in consultation with the local community last summer.

"These improvements are part of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision, the long-term plan we've developed with local residents to transform and grow Johnstone's town centre.

"We're working to revitalise the Houston Court precinct, alongside Johnstone's historic Houstoun Square and Ludovic Square, to create more welcoming, inclusive and flexible spaces for all to enjoy, to support local businesses, and to celebrate the town's heritage."