An extra £153,000 will be used to bolster efforts to secure the future of the B-listed former police station in Renfrew – if elected members back the move.
The cash is needed to fund the recently agreed demolition of a rear portion of the Inchinnan Road landmark, namely offices and cells, and rot removal work.
If the step is rubber-stamped at Renfrewshire Council’s finance, resources and customer services policy board on Thursday, it will bring the total project budget to £263,000 – although £25,000 has already been spent on repairs.
Councillor Jamie McGuire, a Labour representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, stressed the importance of protecting the building.
He fears that without such action it could follow the same path as the Brown Institute in Canal Street which was knocked down after a dangerous building notice was served on the property in February last year.
Councillor McGuire said: “The building has huge potential. It’s part of Renfrew’s history. It’s so historic and we can’t have what occurred with the Brown Institute happen again.
“We saw what happens when a historic building is left without any maintenance. It ends up falling into disrepair. We need to learn from the mistakes of the Brown Institute. If we don’t, history will repeat itself.”
The former police station dates back to 1910 and was designed by Alexander Nisbet Paterson. It was leased by the police until June 2012 before they moved on to new premises in Station Road.
Since then, the two-storey building in the Baronial Revival style has lain vacant. The property has suffered severe deterioration in the years since, exacerbated by regular break-ins, vandalism and extensive water ingress.
Towards the end of 2023, it was agreed approximately £110,000 should be allocated for repair and maintenance works.
The local authority previously submitted an application to the Levelling Up Fund for a £20 million project to transform the police station and neighbouring swimming baths into a community hub but the bid was unsuccessful.
Councillor McGuire added: “The building has huge potential, hence why it was at the forefront of the Levelling Up bid. I think that’s because it has a future use, possibly as a community hub, which I believe would be the best option for it.”
If the board authorises the additional £153,000 from the Renfrew Common Good Fund, it is proposed the strip out of rot, potential asbestos removal and demolition of the rear buildings begin in spring.
The local authority will also continue to search for a viable and sustainable use for the site in the hope of securing its future. A council spokesperson said: “We continue to explore all options to bring the former police station back into use and have set out further essential repair and maintenance works to protect the building which are being considered by councillors on Thursday.”
Don’t miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines –you can sign up to our free daily newsletter here