The demolition of a former food store in Johnstone is set to begin next month after a contract was approved by Renfrewshire councillors. Elected members authorised awarding the job of flattening the Houstoun Court building, often referred to as the old Presto, last week.
The works are scheduled to commence on Monday, July 13, and run until Friday, October 2, after an agreement was rubber-stamped at the finance, resources and customer services policy board. The project forms part of a significant regeneration initiative which aims to provide a green link between the two civic squares in the town centre.
Councillor Chris Gilmour, a Labour representative for Johnstone North and the surrounding villages, said after the meeting: "This building, which was opened in the early 1970s and remembered fondly by many Johnstonians as 'Presto', has sadly fallen out of use in recent years. I believe the decision to demolish is the correct one. This building dominated the shops all around it and its decaying façade presented a very gloomy outlook for those shopping in Houstoun Court."
He added: "It provides Renfrewshire Council with the opportunity to really make a difference, not only in Houstoun and Ludovic Squares, but also the space in between. There is some welcome investment coming, however, I believe this should just be the start of an investment process which will see the area made into a space which can be used all year round to promote the people and businesses of Johnstone and the surrounding area."
The deal has a total value of £262,305.57, excluding VAT, which consists of the contract sum as well as contingency spend. It will be funded by a £200,000 allocation from the Scottish Government place based investment programme and £62,305.57 of town centre generation funding approved by Renfrewshire Council in March 2022.
A report considered at the board said: "This demolition and removal of buildings under this contract will support the creation of two new business units and a 'green' link between Houstoun and Ludovic squares, with reconfigured parking and public spaces, planting and drainage."
