The former Presto and Safeway supermarket at Houston Court in Johnstone has been demolished as part of plans to regenerate the town centre.
The building has been removed ahead of planned redevelopment of the site, which includes two new commercial buildings and a green link between Houstoun Square and Ludovic Square.
Renfrewshire Council secured £850,000 from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to deliver the next phase of improvements at Houston Court.
The funding will be used to build the commercial premises on part of the former supermarket site, reconfigure parking and public spaces, and carry out landscaping.
Councillors approved the demolition contract at a meeting of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board on 11th June 2026.
Caskie Limited was appointed to carry out the work. The approved contract was worth £262,305.57 excluding VAT, including a contingency allowance.
Work was scheduled to begin on 13th July and finish by 2nd October 2026.
The demolition was funded through a £200,000 allocation from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme, alongside £62,305.57 from town centre regeneration funding previously approved by the council.
The redevelopment forms part of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision. The long-term plan was developed with the local community and covers Houstoun Square, Houston Court and Ludovic Square.
In its announcement on 26th May, the council also said vacant buildings at 38 and 56 Houston Court were being refurbished.
Photo: The former Presto and Safeway supermarket site at Houston Court in Johnstone following demolition
Photo Credit: John Armour / Renfrewshire News