Work has started at the former Johnstone Police Station to create a vibrant new community hub for the town, and the design and construction team came together with Active Communities this week for a photograph to mark the occasion.
Active Communities are developing the site to provide a one stop community hub - with event space, offices and training facilities which can be accessed by the whole community, and used for health & wellbeing initiatives led by their staff.
Susan McDonald, CEO of Active Communities explains: "Our local community have worked tirelessly to shape the plans for the project and we are excited to see the work starting! The building will provide a focal point for the whole community, improving health and wellbeing, reducing loneliness and isolation, providing training, skills development and, creating jobs. We are so grateful for the funding for this first phase which comes from the Scottish Government Town Centre Strategy Fund and Renfrewshire Council Community Empowerment Fund."
Plans have been drawn up by Paisley-based Cormack Gracie Architects, who are also acting as contract administrator, with Armour Construction Consultants providing cost consultancy and principal designer services. Lochlie Construction Group, have been appointed as the principal contractor in the first phase of works.
Lochlie’s Managing Director, Douglas Aitken, comments: “We are delighted to be involved in this fantastic project, and it’s great to see the first phase of work starting on site. Our team are raring to go, and the local community will already be seeing the activity around the site. Externally, the scaffolding is going up in preparation for the roof and window works, and internally we will be carrying out significant structural work to ready the building for the next phase.”
Armour’s Hunter Kirkpatrick adds: “This project will be a terrific asset for the community when complete, and the team at Armour are really proud to be involved with such a worthwhile initiative.”
The first phase of works is scheduled to be completed in February with funding already secured for the future phases. Architect Iain Cormack says, “It’s great to see the work getting underway, and I’m looking forward to seeing our drawings come to life as the project progresses over the coming months.”
We'll post updates as work progresses, so watch this space!
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