Renfrewshire Council

This grant scheme is now closed.

Paisley Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme

The Paisley THI CARS scheme from 2009 to 2016 successfully transformed the physical and economic environment of Paisley Town Centre Conservation Area. 

Grants were awarded to property owners to carry out historic building repair and traditional shopfront reinstatement. Significant improvements to the public realm were also made while a complementary activity programme provided opportunities for training, education and participation in the rich history and heritage of the area.

The scheme was funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Renfrewshire Council and created an overall investment in excess of £3.5 million.

Paisley Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme 2

Paisley Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (TH.CARS2) was funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Renfrewshire Council, and gave grant opportunities to property owners in a defined area of Paisley Town Centre focusing on High Street, New Street, Shuttle Street and George Place.

A programme of heritage education, training and events engaged with diverse audiences with the heritage and culture of Paisley, with an emphasis on learning through making, particularly around traditional building skills and textiles.

Building repair grants

Under the TH.CARS2 scheme the Building Repair Grants were available for structural and external repairs to historic buildings, which are still in use, including improvements to shop fronts. Internal repairs were generally not included unless necessary for structural stability. 

A number of buildings were identified as Priority Projects due to their listing, status, heritage value, prominence or the impact their appearance makes within the TH.CARS2 area and were the focus for funding.

The remaining funds were available for other buildings within the TH.CARS2 area. The allocation of remaining funds were determined by assessment against required criteria.

Grants were awarded in accordance with the terms and conditions of Renfrewshire Council, Historic Environment Scotland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Small Grants and Standard Grants were available for up to 80% of the cost of eligible building repair work and 90% of the cost of eligible shopfront repairs.

Building Maintenance Plans

Following the success of the Building Maintenance Plan Programme in 2020, a second round of free external building condition surveys was available to property owners in 2021.

Ongoing maintenance is a major challenge for owners of historic property and to provide the necessary information to carry out regular maintenance, a condition survey was required. 

As part of the TH.CARS2 programme, a limited number of free external condition surveys were available o property owners for buildings which were:

• located within Paisley Town Centre Conservation Area
• in shared ownership or shared use

For people with a factor for the property, the necessary consent of all owners was essential and was required to be evidenced before building surveys are carried out.

Traditional building skills training grant

The Traditional Building Skills Training Support was a grant for training people in traditional building skills and the conservation of historic buildings. It was available to small or medium sized construction companies in Renfrewshire. The grant was used to increase the traditional building skills and conservation knowledge of employees in the industry.

Read more information about the Paisley TH.CARS2 Townscape Heritage and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme 2 on the Paisley.Is website.