Plans to knock down fire-damaged former nursing home in Paisley back on table
Plans to knock down a fire-damaged former nursing home in Paisley are back on the table after a fresh application was submitted to Renfrewshire Council.
The owner has returned with a request to fully demolish the B-listed Speirsfield House in Stevenson Street after it was hit by a second fire last month.
A previous proposal to flatten the original structure and specific extensions was put forward in September, following a blaze in August, but was later withdrawn.
However, the future of the property, which engineers say has suffered extensive damage, could soon be determined as architects make the case its repair and reuse is not viable.
The market value of the house, if fully refurbished, has been estimated at roughly £950,000 but it has been argued the works to get it to that stage could cost £3.5 million.
A supporting statement said: "It is proposed that this report would be used to support a new listed building consent application for demolition on the basis that the repair of the building is not economically viable and there has been adequate marketing for existing and/or new uses at a price reflecting its location and condition for a reasonable period to attract interest from potential restoring purchasers.
"We have demonstrated a development deficit of around £2.6m and our surveyors are of the opinion that even if an extensive marketing period was set up, there would be little chance of a sale in the current state."
The statement continued: "It is accepted that the building has been badly damaged by the fire and that uncontrolled collapse is a concern.
"If urgent work is required to address this, it should be the minimum required to remove any danger to public safety from uncontrolled collapse."
The Victorian mansion, designed by architect John Hutchison, is thought to have been built around 1874 but is now a shadow of its former self.
Emergency services attended in May and a fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. This followed a blaze at the site last August.
A decision on the latest application, which is expected to be determined by the council's planning and climate change policy board, will be made at a later date.
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Scotsman
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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'Rundown' UK seaside town dealt major blow as iconic attraction goes up for sale
An iconic seaside town that has grappled with its reputation for years has suffered a huge blow after one of its most popular attractions has unexpectedly hit the market A 'rundown' seaside town has been thrown into the limelight as one of its most historic landmarks has gone on the market. Once referred to as the 'King' of the UK coast, Blackpool' s reputation has plummeted into the gutter in recent years - with holidaymakers branding the area 'scruffy' and 'untidy'. On TripAdvisor, visitors have critiqued the town's 'tired' seafront, boarded-up shops, and 'drunken gangs' loitering in the streets. Last month, Blackpool came sixth-to-last in Which?' s league tables* for the best seaside towns in the country, scoring a measly 48 per cent overall destination score. Members of the consumer brand gave the town just one star for its 'scenery' and shopping options, while its beach, seafront/ pier, and food and drink offerings received a still-poor two-star rating. In another huge blow to the resort, its renowned North Pier - located just a stone's throw from the iconic Blackpool Tower - has gone up for sale. The Grade II-listed structure, which opened back in 1863, was bought in 2011 by the Sedgwick family, who also own the town's other two piers. However, the owners have decided with a 'heavy heart' that they are choosing to 'focus' their attention on their wider portfolio, and are looking for 'sensible offers' for the Victorian pier. "It retains its Victorian grandeur and traditionally characterised construction with a wooden deck above a substructure of cast iron girders, cross members and screw piles, providing a significant footprint of circa 13,500 m2," said Avison Young, the estate agents selling the pier. "The pier's promenade deck is lined with wooden benches with ornamental cast iron backs. At intervals along the pier are hexagonal kiosks built around 1900 in wood and glass with minaret roofs topped with decorative finials." All of the equipment and machines, including an arcade, theatre and bar, are included with the sale. It is believed the pier generates a total income of around £2.3 million per year. Despite Blackpool's struggling reputation, it's clear the resort is still a firm favourite amongst Brits. 2023 figures showing the town attracted a whopping 21.5 million tourists, a six per cent spike compared to the year before. As previously reported, Blackpool is also undergoing a huge regeneration thanks to a long-term initiative called the Talbot Gateway Development. The £350 million fund, led by Blackpool Council and Muse, aims to redevelop the area around Blackpool North train station in order to bring over 8,000 workers and students into Blackpool town centre and create more jobs and opportunities for local people. You can learn more about the investment here. *Which?'s results are based on an online survey of 8,952 experiences from 3,872 Which? Connect panel members conducted between January and March, 2025.
