Plans to demolish an old office building in Paisley and build almost 70 flats have been given the green light by Renfrewshire Council.

The former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) site on Lonend closed in 2018 and has been empty ever since.

Kelvin Properties has now been given permission to knock it down and develop 67 apartment homes at a maximum height of five storeys.

The site is bordered by flats to the north, the Watermill Hotel and White Cart to the east, Mecca Bingo to the south-east, a public car park to the south and further residential development to the west.

In addition to the flats, which would spread across three blocks, the proposals included shared spaces and hybrid office zones, as well as a fully-equipped children’s play area.

Earlier this year, Kelvin Properties director Marc Taylor said the developer hoped to “reinvigorate a derelict vacant site”.

He added: “We see this as a key gateway site into Paisley town centre, for those travelling from the south along Lonend.

“We have sought to design and create a high-quality development that welcomes people to the heart of the town while removing vacant buildings which can be an eyesore.”

At Tuesday’s Planning and Climate Change Policy Board, Councillor Andy Doig sought clarity on why the blueprint required the old office site to be knocked down.

He said: “Convener, I’m aware that that Lonend site, I think, is at the very most only about 30 years old.

“Was there a need to demolish the actual buildings or why was that felt necessary?”

Councillor Jim Paterson, board convener, responded by bringing in Gwen McCracken, the council’s development standards manager.

However, he added that the existing building was not up to “minimum living standards”.

He said: “I’ll pass over to Gwen, although having been a previous employee of the Department for Work and Pensions I can assure you the offices they constructed aren’t up to what I would class as minimum living standards.”

Ms McCracken said: “It’s my understanding that in terms of the viability of the site it required to be demolished to allow the site to come forward for development.”

The application was granted subject to conditions.