Plan outlines phased process for relocating facility from Abbey Mill Business Centre to iconic landmark in High Street.
10:34, 16 Sep 2025Updated 10:34, 16 Sep 2025
The Heritage Centre is currently located at Abbey Mill Business Centre in Paisley(Image: Andrew Neil)
A timeline for the temporary closure of the Heritage Centre ahead of its move to Paisley Museum next year will go before councillors this week.
A plan has been drafted outlining the phased process for relocating the facility from Abbey Mill Business Centre to the iconic landmark in High Street.
The operation will begin next month and encompass various steps over a number of months – if approved at Renfrewshire Council’s leadership board on Wednesday.
A report, which will be considered at the meeting, said: “It is proposed that from October 13 the Heritage Centre, currently located at Abbey Mill Business Centre, commences a phased closure programme to step down its activities and presence, in order to support its longer-term planned move to Paisley Museum.
“Working towards eventual cessation of activities and the full temporary closure of the centre will enable essential collection care, conservation and planning work that cannot be completed while the centre remains fully operational.”
From November 1, in-person enquiry services would pause as packing and rationalisation begin and from December 19, most online enquiry services would pause once the collection is fully packed and staff lose access to physical materials. The service would then be shut temporarily at that time.
An artist’s impression showing how Paisley Museum will look once refurbished
The report added: “The temporary closure will also allow the team to contribute more fully to the public and schools programmes in the lead-up to reopening of the new museum. This includes the development of the heritage centre and the services it offers.”
Last month, it was confirmed the transformation of Paisley Museum has entered its final stages as Renfrewshire Council issued an update on the project.
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of this year, with a fit-out period to follow and reopening anticipated in the second half of 2026.
The local authority hopes the £65 million redevelopment, which has been troubled by multiple delays, will create a world-class visitor destination in the heart of the town.
Towards the end of last year, elected members agreed an extra £12.5m should be directed to the previous budget of £52.8m for the regeneration. It was initially costed at £45m.
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