October 22, 2008
Ferguslie Park unveils plans for new centre
The Tannahill Centre was the centrepiece of a major regeneration project over twenty years ago in Ferguslie Park, Paisley. Since then it has struggled to fulfil its potential with responsibility for the ownership and management of the Centre passing between different agencies. Now the locally owned housing association has taken ownership of the Centre. There’s a new sense of optimism about the future now that it’s in the hands of local people
Plans to complete a £2million revamp of the Tannahill Community Centre are well underway.The popular Centre based in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley is set to be transformed into a state of the art community hub.
Ferguslie Park Housing Association (FPHA) who owns and manages the Tannahill Centre has been working to create a funding package and design for the Centre.
The Big lottery Growing Community Assets fund has awarded funding to allow a design team to be appointed, community consultation to take place and full designs for the Centre to be complete.
Scotland’s leading workplace design experts Space Solutions have been appointed as the lead consultants and architects and are charged with reinvigorating the Tannahill Centre.
Plans for the revamp include the creation of a gym, internet area, training and community facilities, small business units and a new café.
A cocktail of funding and private finance is being put together by FPHA to fund the project, with a further application being submitted to the Big Lottery Growing Community Asset Fund in early January to fund a major element of the revamp.
Robert Craig, FPHA Chief Executive said: “We wanted to reinvigorate the centre for the community, to give them somewhere that was a real hub of activity. These are exciting times for Ferguslie Park with St Mirrens new stadium due to open official on 31st January 2009 and a potential stock transfer to FPHA of the 512 existing Renfrewshire Council properties. The proposals for the Tannahill Centre are another example that regeneration never ends in Ferguslie Park.”