Renfrewshire councillors consider plans to convert Houston village hall into private home

Plans to convert Houston Village Hall into a private home have been submitted to Renfrewshire Council for consideration.

A bid for planning permission for the building in Main Street has been lodged by Bruach Architects on behalf of an applicant.

If the project is given the go ahead, the two-storey traditional sandstone property from the late 19th century will be transformed into a house.

The council sold the building after the move was approved by the infrastructure, land and environment policy board towards the end of last year.

This came after it was declared “surplus to requirements” by the local authority in January 2023 and put up for sale on the open market.

It had been tenanted by the Church of Nazarene from June 2011 until April 2022, according to a council paper, and sub-leased to a variety of community groups and organisations throughout that period.

Following the expiry of the head lease, the sub-tenants went on to find alternative premises – leaving the village hall unoccupied.

In 2010, a condition survey found the building required around £180,000 of investment over two decades for it to remain in a good condition and fit for occupation.

The local authority said this made the prospect of a community asset transfer – where responsibility for an asset transfers to a community group or voluntary organisation – a “difficult route” for eligible bodies.

While this was initially considered and rejected on cost grounds by one organisation, there were said to be no other requests as of January 2023.

A report to the infrastructure, land and environment policy board explained at the time: “The council itself does not have dedicated funds available to invest in ensuring the long term sustainability of the building and are not aware of any other local group or organisation that does.

“The view of officers is that this would be best achieved by a disposal on the open market, with the benefit of an approved development brief.”

The sale was approved at the same policy board in November 2024.

A decision on the application for planning permission, which is expected to be reached by council officers, will be confirmed at a later date.