PLANNING permission has been granted for the £42 million Paisley Museum project, which is expected to provide a significant boost for the local economy and support 138 jobs during construction.
Designs by architects AL_A for the A-listed building have been approved, with the facility now set to be transformed. Members of Renfrewshire Council’s communities, housing and planning board have given the green light to works which include an extension and external alterations.
The reimagined museum has been tipped to attract 125,000 visitors a year – almost four times current numbers – when it reopens in 2022.
Plans include:
- a fully-accessible entrance courtyard and red glazed entrance hall
- a new wing to the west of the existing building providing step-free access through the museum to the Coats Observatory
- an outdoor garden, creating a new public space for the town
- internal renovations to improve accessibility and circulation and extend the museum into the space formerly occupied by Paisley Central Library
- an interactive weaving studio
Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s communities, housing and planning board said, “The Paisley Museum Reimagined project is at the heart of our bold plans to transform Paisley town centre in the years ahead – we are delighted it was able to pass this important milestone today. The designs which have been produced blend the old and the new – they will create a 21st-century visitor experience while preserving a key part of our fantastic architectural legacy, and ensure this much-loved building can stay at the heart of life in the area for generations to come.
“Paisley’s name is already known around the world – and when the museum reopens in 2022 it will allow us to invite the world to come back to Paisley, providing new opportunities, life and footfall for the town centre and wider Renfrewshire area.”
