Renfrewshire Council leader Mark Macmillan is expected to turn up the heat on bosses from Rosemount Properties – the building’s managing agents – when they come face-to-face in the coming weeks.

Cllr Macmillan will be demanding answers over the future of the shopping precinct in Houstoun Square which is in dire need of investment.

With construction of the new town hall nearing completion, Cllr Macmillan will press Rosemount to establish a timetable for development of their neglected site.

He said: “I will be meeting with the company to find out about their plans for the site and get a better idea of their timetable for the work to happen.

“We are looking for a positive and constructive dialogue with them and to secure their commitment to the regeneration of Johnstone.

“We hope that by doing so we can bring comfort to residents and traders in the town, who will quite understandably be wondering what is happening with the site.” As The Gazette has previously reported, the dishevelled shopping precinct stands in stark contrast to the spectacular new building that’s being built just yards away.

It’s understood Rosemount has planning consent to revamp the retail site, but has yet to confirm when work will start to allow new tenants to move in.

The main part of the development has been unoccupied since the Co-operative food store shut its doors in November.

And with the new £14.5m town hall set to open in the summer, Cllr Macmillan doesn’t want the situation to hold back the ongoing regeneration of the area.

He added: “The money we have put into the town hall next door is one of the biggest public sector investments anywhere in Scotland right now.

“And it’s only a few months until we open the doors on a striking modern building which will be a centerpiece for life in the town for generations to come.

“We are keen to invest in public realm work in the area immediately around the new town hall to make sure it looks as good as the building.

“But to do that we need to work in partnership with the owners of neighbouring properties and we hope to be able to do that with the precinct’s owners.” When it opens in the summer, the town hall will house a library, theatre and conference space, marriage suite, cafe and meeting rooms.

It will also be home to council housing and social work staff, as well as offices for Police Scotland and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The building is also on a four-building shortlist to be named Public Building of the Year at the Scottish Property Awards — a prestigious ceremony to showcase the best new property in Scotland.

A spokesman for Rosemount Properties, speaking on behalf of the head leaseholders Alwyd Ltd, said it has been in ongoing discussions for some time with Renfrewshire Council regarding the shopping arcade in Johnstone.

He added: “The council are fully aware of the current situation. The footway and lighting are adopted by the council and we have been talking with them to agree the upgrading of these areas.

“Our discussions have been positive and constructive to date, I’m sure between us we can push the arcade back to being more of a focal point for the town of Johnstone which has been badly affected by the edge of town superstore.

“The former supermarket unit remains under lease to Co-op, they are obligated to remove the canopy and the derelict upper floor offices, I understand from our most recent discussions with them that they expect this work to proceed in the spring of this year. They are currently marketing their unit either as a whole or as smaller sub-divided units.

“We have recently concluded two new lettings in the arcade, Cancer Research will be occupying units one and two, we also have a new tenant for the former Wimpy unit which will be operated as a cafe. We have good interest in the two remaining units with retailers recognising that the new Civic Hub will be good for the arcade and the town generally.”