Online shopping, out-of-town retail parks and a cost-of-living crisis have hit many high streets across Scotland hard.
"It's been quite hard dragging people into Paisley. The biggest blow was losing the Marks & Spencer's outlet store to the new retail park," Elaine said."So having the museum? Amazing. Having the library? Amazing," Elaine added. "Paisley used to be a booming and buoyant town, but then out-of-town shopping centres killed it," Ewan said."We haven't seen business pick up yet, but I think when the museum opens across the road, it'll pick up a wee bit - I think 2025 will be our year," he said.
Beyond Retail, which purchased the centre in 2021, is now developing on the plans with Threesixty and Renfrewshire Council."These projects are long-term, we've spent 50 years destroying high streets so it takes time to build them back up", said Alan Anthony, the architecture firm's director.
Of the £100m to be invested in Paisley, about £59m is coming from Renfrewshire Council, with the rest coming from various funds like the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and from the Scottish government.