BARR Update 2026 - AM reviewed 20 01 26
Renfrewshire Council · 20 January 2026
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 20 January 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 20 January 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) Update Report ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update members on the status of the Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) and its relevance to buildings in Renfrewshire. The BARR is currently paused pending evaluation; however, progress is being made to secure the future of many heritage buildings in Renfrewshire that are currently deemed at risk. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) Notes the status of Renfrewshire’s BARR-listed buildings, including those that remain ‘at risk,’ are under restoration, have been demolished, or have active or recently approved planning applications for development. (ii) Notes officer progress on the previous BARR listings within Renfrewshire Council’s ownership. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Historic Environment Scotland (HES) Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) remains paused, pending consideration of the five options outlined in the last update report presented to the Economy and Regeneration Policy Board on 18 March 2025. Members should note that, as the BARR is no longer being updated, it cannot be relied upon as an accurate representation of building status. Over time, it will become increasingly outdated until an alternative system is adopted.
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PUBLIC 3.2 3.3 In the interim, Council officers have continued to use the BARR to monitor Renfrewshire’s heritage buildings until HES decides on next steps for the register. Officers have maintained dialogue with HES regarding its future; however, no further information on the preferred option has been released to date. As the BARR has been paused for some time, there have been no new additions (or removals). Spiersfield House and the former Chivas Building are two potential entries which would have likely been nominated for BARR inclusion - due to their known condition and vacancy. Officers have included them within the entries contained at Appendix A and will incorporate these entries into reporting in the next update. Should the BARR be reactivated prior to the next board report, officers would seek to nominate these buildings with HES for inclusion. _________________________________________________________ 4. Renfrewshire’s Buildings at Risk Summary 4.1 Table 1 below provides a summary of the BARR by location, category, condition and ownership. A more detailed summary of the status of Renfrewshire buildings listed on BARR can be found in Appendix A of this report. 4.2 Two listings recommended for removal from the BARR (Former TA building in Paisley and K6 Phonebox in Lochwinnoch) in the last update to Board have now been removed from the update table. Table 1: Summary of Renfrewshire BARR 4.3 It is important to note that of Renfrewshire’s BARR listings, 23 out of the 25 listings are privately owned. Only two properties - Kelvin House/Forbes Place (former council social work offices) and the former Renfrew Police Station are within Renfrewshire Council’s ownership. The latter is held as part of the Renfrew Common Good Fund. Both have remained vacant for several years. BARR listings within Renfrewshire Council’s ownership 4.4 Kelvin House and Forbes Place were marketed for sale in November 2024. Despite a robust marketing campaign, no credible offers were received for the property. This reflects the number of site constraints and the market’s perception of its development value.
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PUBLIC 4.5 Officers instructed structural surveys of the buildings in late 2025 to support the commissioning of a conservation-accredited architect. The architect is currently appraising the site, and a report outlining potential development options is expected in February 2026 for the Council’s consideration. It is hoped that this appraisal and the proposed options will provide sufficient information to guide an appropriate way forward for the site. The current intention is to report the outcome of this analysis to the March 2026 Board cycle. 4.6 Renfrew Police Station was granted listed building consent in November 2024 for the demolition of the cells to the rear of the building as well as the removal of rotten wood at the front of the building. Asbestos removal is currently underway on site. Timber strip-out will commence early in the new year, and demolition of the cells is expected early summer 2026, depending on the number of surveys required. It is hoped that these works will make the building a more viable option for refurbishment / development. BARR listings in private ownership 4.7 Since the last update to the Board in March, three BARR listings ringfenced for demolition—Leethland House (Elderslie), St Joseph’s Missionary College (Lochwinnoch), and the partial demolition of the RAI main building (Paisley)— remain in situ pending implementation of approved planning applications. 4.8 Since obtaining planning consents, work is awaited on the conversion of St Joseph’s Missionary College Chapel (Lochwinnoch) into retirement flats, 44 High Street (Paisley) into flats, and Lochwinnoch Parish Church into a village community hub. Furthermore, planning permission was granted for the conversion of Priory Park on Main Road, Paisley, to form 17 flats, which has not yet commenced. _________________________________________________________ 5. Assessment and Next Steps 5.1 A major challenge in addressing Renfrewshire’s BARR listings is that only two are owned by Renfrewshire Council or Renfrew Common Good Fund, while the vast majority are privately owned - some by multiple separate owners. 5.2 For privately owned buildings showing a poor state of repair in their external appearance, officers have the following options in contacting the owner (if known): 1. Informally ask the owner to consider maintenance to improve the appearance. 2. Serve an Amenity Notice [authority delegated to officers] to the owner of the building (if details known). 3. Compulsory purchase of the property - in practice this is a very length process and is often the last resort. 5.3 As previously reported, the Council have continued to take positive steps to influence change:
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PUBLIC • Non-domestic rates relief previously offered to listed buildings has been significantly reduced by Renfrewshire Council (in 2023) from 100% to 10% with an aim of stimulating market activity. o Following agreement on a Council motion in December 2025, a formal assessment of the effectiveness of non-domestic rates relief will be carried out Officers will carry out this assessment in 2026 and report back to Board findings at a later date. • Facilitating grants for historically important properties in the villages through the Historic Buildings in Villages Grants Scheme, which supports numerous owners in restoring and preserving listed buildings. • There is also scope for owners of listed buildings to benefit from the new Town Centre Regeneration Fund (an update on which was reported to the Board on 20 May 2025). This fund will be promoted in the new year with the aim of stimulating stalled projects. • Continuing dialogue with private owners to stimulate development, including site visits to understand future plans for important buildings and how the Council can assist. 5.4 Officers will continue to engage with private owners to encourage positive development, respond to potential grant opportunities as they arise, maintain and preserve Renfrewshire’s historical assets, and monitor the BARR and all of Renfrewshire’s listed buildings to ensure accuracy. Officers will also provide timely reports to the relevant Council Boards. _________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial. – None at present. Monitoring and engagement costs are met from existing budgets. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is thriving / Reshaping our place, our economy and our future – Restoration on buildings listed on the BARR supports significant investment in Renfrewshire. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the
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PUBLIC recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None . 12. Climate Risk – None. 13. Children’s Rights – None. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None. ________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Investment criteria for Renfrewshire Town Centre Regeneration Fund, Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 20 May 2025 (b) Built Heritage – Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) Update, Economy and Regeneration Policy Board,18 March 2025 (c) Listed Buildings and Built Heritage; Communities, Housing and Planning Board, 17 August 2021 ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer, Regeneration and Place Manager
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OFFICIAL# # Settlement Settlement Cat. of Listing Ownership Condition Category of Risk BARR Status RC Opinion Development Status Action 1 Mannequins II (Former), 13, Old Sneddon Street Paisley N/A Private Poor Low REST. REST. Phase 1 works complete. Seeking funding for next phase. Retain as REST. 2 11 Lawn Street Paisley N/A Private Fair Low AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning activity and further degradation. Retain as AT RISK 3 Old Paisley Fire Station, 10-14, Gordon Street Paisley B Private Fair Low REST. REST. Development started with internal works, sandstone restoration to outside and new windows. Development now stalled. Retain as REST. 4 1 High Street Paisley B Private Fair Low AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning or development activity Retain as AT RISK 5 18, High Street Paisley B Private Fair Low REST. REST. Recent planning activity for internal alterations to groundfloor and shopfront. Retain as REST. 6 20, High Street Paisley B Private Fair Low AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning activity or evidence or development to upper floors. Retain as AT RISK 7 44 High Street Paisley N/A Private Fair Moderate AT RISK AT RISK Recent planning consent acquired for conversion to five flats. Retain as AT RISK. Change to REST on start of works8 44 Causeyside Street Paisley N/A Private Fair Moderate REST. REST. Façade renovations completed in October 2023. Building warrant for interior fit out approved July 24. Retain as REST. Remove on completion of works9 13 Moss Street Paisley Paisley N/A Private Fair Low AT RISK REST. Ground floor commercial completed, units occupied. Consents acquired for upper floor conversion to residential. Change to REST. 10 Kelvin House, 15-17 Marshall's Lane Paisley C RC Poor High AT RISK AT RISK Recently remarketed for sale. The Council is currently working with a conservation architect to consider options for the site. Retain as AT RISK 11 Paisley Coats Girls Club (Former), 27, Ferguslie Paisley B Private Poor Low REST. REST. Planning approved for residential conversion. Works started. Retain as REST. 12 Royal Alexandra Infirmary: Main Building, Calside Paisley B Private Poor High AT RISK REST. Planning and building warrant approved for partial demolition and conversion to residential. Some works have been undertaken - demolition of entrance building (not listed) and some site clearance albeit works appears to have halted again. Changed to REST. Due to commencement of works. 13 Dykebar Hospital Superintendant's House (Former) Paisley B Private Ruinous Moderate AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning or development activity. Retain as AT RISK 14 Hawkhead House Farm Steading, Ben Alder Drive Paisley B Private Very poor High AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning or development activity. Retain as AT RISK 15 Hawkhead House Farmhouse, Ben Alder Drive Paisley C Private Poor Moderate AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning or development activity. Retain as AT RISK 16 Priory Park, 21 Main Road, Paisley Paisley N/A Private Fair Low AT RISK AT RISK Recently attained consents for conversion to form 17 flats with associated parking and landscaping. Currently being marketed with consents. Retain as AT RISK. Change to REST on start of works 17 Sanctuary House, 8, Stanely Road, Paisley Paisley B Private Poor Moderate AT RISK REST. Some works carried out to shore up the building. Change to REST. 18 Leethland House, Glenpatrick Road Elderslie N/A Private Ruinous High AT RISK AT RISK Recent consents attained for the demolition of Leethland House and replacement dwelling subject to conditions. Retain as AT RISK and remove following demolition. 19 Kilbarchan Old Parish Church, Church Street Kilbarchan B Private Fair Low AT RISK REST. Works underway including new window repairs, replacement and recent planning application for solar panels. Change to REST. 20 St Joseph's Missionary College (Former): Chapel, Kilbirnie Road Lochwinnoch C Private Poor Moderate AT RISK AT RISK Recent planning permission attained for conversion of the formal chapel to form 5 retirement flats (part of 30 on wider site). Retain as AT RISK. Change to REST on start of works21 St Joseph‘s Missionary College (Former): Dormitory Building, Kilbirnie Road Lochwinnoch C Private Poor Moderate AT RISK AT RISK Planning and listed building was recently granted for the redevelopment of the site. If implemented, former dormitory building would be demolished to make way for a walled garden relating to the development of retirement flats on wider site. Retain as AT RISK. Remove following demolition. 22 Calderhaugh House Stables, Main Street Lochwinnoch B Private Fair Low AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning or development activity. Retain as AT RISK 23 Lochwinnoch Parish Church, Church Street Lochwinnoch A Private Fair Moderate AT RISK AT RISK Local community recently received two grants to assist with purchase, building restoration and conversion to community hub. Nocurrent development activity. Retain as AT RISK. Change to REST on start of works. 24 Renfrew Police Station (Former), Inchinnan Road, Renfrew B RC Fair Low AT RISK AT RISK Recent listed building consent approved for demolition of cells and clearance or dry rot. Asbestos removal on site. Timber strip starts in new year. Demolition will be sometime after May dependant on required wildlife surveys . Retain as AT RISK 25 Renfrew Equitable Cooperative Society, 24, High Street, Renfrew B Private Poor Low AT RISK AT RISK No recent planning or development activity. Retain as AT RISK # Speirsfield House, Stevenson Street Paisley B Private Poor High N/A AT RISK Recently granted LBC consent for demolition. Retain as AT RISK # Chivas Building, Renfrew Road Paisley C RC Poor High N/A AT RISK Currently being marketed for sale Retain as AT RISK APPENDIX A