March 28, 2024

Parts of a Paisley shopping centre could be bulldozed in a multi-million pound overhaul of the town centre.

NewRiver REIT want to demolish sections of the Piazza Shopping Centre to make way for a new state-of-the-art space which they say will include “much needed new homes” and a selection of “food and beverage, leisure and business opportunities.”

The retail developers are the second firm to have eyes on transforming the town centre, following ambitious blueprints to overhaul the nearby Paisley Centre on the High Street.

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In the proposals, NewRiver – which owns the complex – says it would bring down the centre’s 355 space multi-storey car park and a section of the mall which includes shops such as M&Co, Semi-Chem and Subway.

The firm plan to build new homes, uncover the White Cart River, improve the taxi rank, provide charging points for electrical vehicles and add a number of retail and leisure and businesses.

The firm also plans to explore the possibility of reactivating the railway arches.

Sophie Shannon, director at NewRiver, said: “We are excited to have submitted our proposal of application notice to redevelop the Piazza Shopping Centre.

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“Our plans include the demolition of the existing car park, reduction of the overall retail footprint for the centre, the introduction of much needed new homes and an overall upgrade of the public realm.”

A Proposal of Application Notice has now been submitted to Renfrewshire Council ahead of a full planning application next year.

If given the green light, the multi-million pound project will be the second major development on the cards for the town centre following the recent planning application for the Paisley Centre.



The owners of the centre submitted a Proposal of Application Notice to Renfrewshire Council

Beyond Retail Property Fund Ltd recently submitted its proposals to planning bosses which revealed a masterplan to overhaul the High Street shopping centre, including shops, apartments, a hotel, potential for a state-of-the-art health centre.

Paisley’s MSP George Adam welcomed the plans to transform the Piazza.

He said: “Looking at the proposals I feel there is merit in the plans. At the moment that area would benefit from a facelift. I don’t believe that the car park is particularly widely used but ensuring there is adequate parking is something that the council must consider.

“We must bring people into the town centre which then provides the services that they require, strengthening the town’s economy.”

John Wilby, chair of Paisley West and Central Community Council, added: “The proposed re-developments would comprise a major transformation of the town centre. We therefore encourage members of the public to make their views known by e-mail to us at [email protected].”

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