Renfrewshire Council has secured £850,000 from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to deliver the next phase of improvements at the Houston Court precinct in Johnstone town centre — the latest investment in a long-term strategy to revitalise one of Renfrewshire’s key urban hubs.
The Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund has supported community-led regeneration projects across Scotland for over a decade, channelling public investment into town centres that are being reimagined for modern economic and social use. Johnstone’s award is part of a broader national effort to breathe new life into Scotland’s town centres, which have faced structural challenges from shifting retail patterns and changing community needs.
The funding forms part of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision, an ambitious plan developed alongside local residents to transform Houstoun Square, Houston Court precinct, and Ludovic Square into a connected social and cultural heart for the town. Work is already underway, with vacant buildings at 38 and 56 Houston Court being refurbished, and a vacant supermarket on the site due for demolition this summer.
The new Scottish Government grant will fund the construction of two new commercial buildings on part of the former supermarket site, alongside reconfigured parking and public spaces, and landscaping designed to create a green link between Houstoun Square and Ludovic Square.
Councillor Andy Steel, Convener of the Economy and Regeneration Board, said: “I am pleased we’ve secured £850,000 Scottish Government funding to make improvements to the Houston Court precinct, in line with plans developed in consultation with the local community last summer.
“These improvements are part of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision, the long-term plan we’ve developed with local residents to transform and grow Johnstone’s town centre. We’re working to revitalise the Houston Court precinct, alongside Johnstone’s historic Houstoun Square and Ludovic Square, to create more welcoming, inclusive and flexible spaces for all to enjoy, to support local businesses, and to celebrate the town’s heritage.”
