Works to turn a former retail unit in the town’s High Street into a new library should begin in December – if councillors give a contract the green light.
The learning and cultural hub will replace Paisley Central Library, which closed in the autumn of last year as part of the work to transform the museum.
A £4.5 million contract will be considered by elected members at Wednesday’s Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board.
If given the go ahead, the main contractor will be hub West Scotland, with works then being sub-contracted to CCG.
The total construction period is anticipated to be 64 weeks from the date of commencement, which is currently scheduled to be December 2.
Plans are in place to refurbish and repurpose the four storeys and basement of the property at 22 High Street.
A report said: “The project will transform and bring back into use a vacant and historically significant town centre building and forms part of a larger suite of projects that will stimulate regeneration activity in Paisley town centre.”
Councillor Kenny MacLaren added: “It’s great that such investment is lined up for this part of the High Street, along with the further work on the museum and former central library, hopefully this will transform this part of Paisley’s town centre and encourage more visitors to the area.
“However, in the meantime some of the local businesses are struggling and it would be good to remind people that this end of town is open for business.
“I’m pleased that the planning board had rejected the council’s original plan to demolish the building at 22 High Street where the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub will be built.
“It would have made a mockery of trying to preserve Paisley’s heritage to simply flatten an historic building in the middle of the High Street.
“I am glad that planning officers now think that refurbishment will transform and bring back into use a vacant and historically significant town centre building when previously they wanted to demolish this building but were sent back to think again by councillors who felt the same way as I did.”
