PAISLEY'S office and retail sectors will be boosted in the spring when

two new schemes are completed. Both schemes retain many original

architectural features and should blend into Paisley's town centre.

Renfrewshire Enterprise are to occupy P&O Properties' 25,000 sq.ft 25/29

Causeyside Street which comes with 41 parking spaces. It is understood

that the rental achieved was #10 per sq.ft.

Built by the Co-operative Wholesale Society in 1910, the Grade

B-listed building is being redeveloped by P&O at a cost of #2.2m. Due

for completion in the spring, the prime site scheme includes four

ground-floor retail units which have been let. Office space is on three

upper floors which retain many original features of the building,

including listed tiles, a ballroom and fireplaces. P&O Properties were

represented by Speirs Gumley.

Renfrewshire Enterprise is one of Scottish Enterprise's Local

Enterprise Companies (Lecs). Its budget of #24m for next year will be

spent on economic development, training and the provision of property

for business.

The P&O scheme stands just across the road from the Paisley Centre,

the town's first covered shopping mall which is also on schedule for

opening in the spring. Around 85% of the scheme (a development by

Bredero and Arrowcroft) has been leased or is under offer. With lettings

to Marks & Spencer, Littlewoods, Boots, Scottish Co-op, In-Shops,

Dorothy Perkins, Hallmark, Stylo Barratt, Phone-In, Benetton, and the

Body Shop.

It is understood that rentals achieved are in the #70-#75 per sq.ft

range. The #60m centre will provide 180,000 sq.ft in stores and 50 units

on three levels. Sandy Cook, a Bredero director, said: ''The enthusiasm

being shown by retailers confirms our belief that such a centre is long

overdue in Paisley. Not only will it provide quality shopping, but it

will also generate around 500 permanent jobs and serve to attract

additional investment into the heart of the town.''

The design of the centre has been commended by the Royal Fine Art

Commission. It involved the rebuilding of a locally famous entrance on

High Street and retains existing stonework. The centre is the largest

shopping centre currently under construction in Scotland, involving

around 250 construction workers, 75% of them from the local area. The

building has soaked up 45,000 tonnes of concrete and 1750 tonnes of

steel reinforcement -- enough steel to go twice from Paisley to London

and back.