Councillors bemoan 'another listed building lost to fire' as demolition approved

A fire-damaged former nursing home in Paisley will be knocked down – a situation that has been branded a “really sorry state of affairs”.

The owner returned with a fresh application to fully demolish the B-listed Speirsfield House in Stevenson Street after it was hit by a second fire in May.

A previous proposal to flatten the original structure and specific extensions was put forward in September last year, following a blaze the month before, but was later withdrawn.

However, the fate of the property, which engineers said has suffered extensive damage, has now been sealed.

Listed building consent was granted, subject to conditions, at the planning and climate change policy board on Tuesday.

Councillor Bruce McFarlane, an SNP representative for Paisley Southeast, said at the meeting: “I think it’s really disappointing that yet again a historic building in Paisley has come before this board for demolition … I don’t know where it leaves us as a board.

“It is what it is, but I just think it’s a really sorry state of affairs that we continue to allow developers to buy these sort of buildings, let them fall into disrepair and then know that the planning authority is in between a rock and a hard place and is limited in what action we can take.”

Reports were submitted with the application, which estimated the cost of a full restoration of Speirsfield House as well as a façade retention as part of a residential development, but these options were not “economically viable”.

A report of handling by the council’s chief planning officer said: “It is clear that the restoration of Speirsfield House for use as a single dwelling would not be economically viable.

“The option of retaining the façade and incorporating it into a future development on the site also has been explored but would not be economically viable.

“All reasonable efforts have therefore been made to retain, reuse and/or adapt the listed building.”

The Victorian mansion, designed by architect John Hutchison, is thought to have been built around 1874 but is now a shadow of its former self.

Emergency services attended in May this year, and a fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. This followed a blaze which took place at the site in August 2024.

Councillor John McNaughtan, an SNP representative for Paisley East and Central, said at this week’s meeting: “Unfortunately, it looks like this is another listed building lost to fire.”

Councillor Ben Smith, a Labour representative for Paisley Northwest, added: “It’s a real shame that we’re losing yet another Victorian building in Paisley.”