Company defends decision to demolish remains of historic TA Halls

the TA Halls, which had fallen into disuse several years ago, were left a gutted shell after fire tore through the building five years ago, but the facade remained and there were hopes it could be used as part of a new structure.   

However, after support scaffolding was removed Renfrewshire Council issued a dangerous building notice which required the owners to either replace the scaffolding or tear the building down.  

A spokesperson for the JR Group said that demolishing the facade was the only option – as the scaffolding itself had become dangerous.  

The company claimed the support structure was sinking into the ground, pulling the front of the ruined building forwards and becoming a “risk to life”.  

The building was gutted by fire (Image: PA) A spokesperson for the JR Group said: “Following numerous site visits and surveys, over a prolonged period of time, regarding the ongoing safety of the TA building façade retention, deteriorating ground conditions meant the scaffolding / retention system – which had been supporting the structure for the last three years – was in fact sinking and, as a result, was pulling the building towards Paisley’s High Street and had become a risk to life. 

“It was essential that urgent action be taken to prevent public harm. Following extensive and detailed dialogue with Renfrewshire Council, permission was granted to demolish the remains of the building.” 

Renfrewshire Council had previously said that had “no choice” but to issue dangerous building notice, and accused the JR Group of ignoring its requests to replace the scaffolding and make the B-listed Halls secure.  

The spokesperson for the JR Group did not respond to this accusation.  

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The Territorial Army Halls were built in 1897 to the design of William Kerr, of Thomas Graham Abercrombie’s architectural practice – which spawned almost 40 other listed buildings. 

Standing between Coates Memorial Church and the A-Listed Paisley Museum the building was a familiar landmark in the town’s centre.    

The Halls were left empty when they were vacated by the Ministry of Defence in 1996, but plans were hatched to convert them into student flats.   

However, a major fire occurred before this could happen, and no development has been carried out since then.   

The building was part of Paisley’s heritage (Image: PA) JR Construction applied to have the facade torn down in December, prompting a campaign to save the building.  

Campaigners launched a petition on the 38 degrees website urging councillors to reject the application to demolish the Halls.   

The application was withdrawn, however, but after the removal of the scaffolding it became clear the building was unsafe.  

Duncan Macintosh, a retired Building Conservation Officer in Paisley who had called for the TA Halls to be preserved, said there was “sadness, anger and bewilderment” in the town at the “dreadful” outcome to the building’s fate.  

He said: “There was no need for the Dangerous Structure Notice to have given demolition as an alternative course of action to reinstating the scaffolding.  

“If the owners had not complied, the Council could have done so and recouped the cost from the owners.  

“It took no account of the clear will of the councillors to retain the facade. When officers get it so wrong, they should be held to account and not expect councillors to shield them from the anger of the electorate.”