The local authority said it had “no choice” but to issue dangerous building notice, meaning owners JR Construction had the green light to tear down what remained of the venerable structure.
The building had been left a gutted shell after fire tore through the building five years ago, but the front remained and there were hopes it could be used as part of a new structure.
However, the facade was left in a parlous state after scaffolding which supported it was removed last year.
Renfrewshire council said that requests to restore the support structure had been “ignored” by the owner, meaning the only course of action was to issue a dangerous building notice (DBN).
The TA Halls were gutted by fire (Image: PA) The DBN was issued on 18 December and gave two options – restore the scaffolding or begin demolition.
JR Construction, which had withdrawn an earlier application to demolish the building, has now proceeded down a route which will see its remains brought to the ground.
The Territorial Army Halls was built in 1897 to the design of William Kerr, of Thomas Graham Abercrombie’s architectural practice – which spawned almost 40 other listed buildings.
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Standing between Coates Memorial Church and the A-Listed Paisley Museum the building was a familiar landmark in the town’s centre.
Vacated in 1996 by the Ministry of Defence, the Halls remained empty until plans were unveiled 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 Halls were one of Paisley’s historic buildings (Image: NQ) JR Construction moved 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 petition states: “The TA building is a much-loved part of the town centre streetscape. It complements the A listed Museum and Coats Memorial Church between which it stands.
“Its loss would undermine the sense of confidence in Paisley’s future which is returning with the major investments in its town hall, museum, arts centre and central library.”
However, even though this route was blocked when the application was withdrawn, the dangerous state of the facade after its supporting scaffolding was removed forced the issue to crisis point.
Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney, who has campaigned to preserve listed buildings in the city, called the demolition “willful vandalism” of a “perfectly salvageable” historic structure.
He added: “JR Group have arrogantly ignored four statutory enforcement notices instructing them to reinstate the scaffolding in November, withdrew their listed building application for demolition in December once advised that it would be refused, yet have miraculously sprang into action right on cue once the Dangerous Building Notice was served days later, in a cynical fait accompli that has given them precisely the outcome they were seeking in the first place, full demolition of the listed building, but by circumventing due process for listed buildings.
“The wider implications of this atrocious decision are of deep concern nationally. It is now clear that a loophole in the current legislation is being exploited by unscrupulous owners and their planning consultants to undermine the statutory protection of listed buildings in Scotland.
“It is all the more concerning that no elected member of the Council has had the opportunity to exercise their democratic decision making authority over something that will ultimately have a significant and permanent detrimental impact on the our built environment both in Paisley and nationally.
He said the situation was a “wake up call” for the Scottish Government to strengthen the 28 year-old legislation protecting listed buildings, which described as “effectively useless” if planning authorities like Renfrewshire Council are unable or unwilling to enforce it.
He added: “That is why I am supporting the Parliamentary petition by SAVE Britain’s Heritage to strengthen statutory protection for listed buildings at risk in Scotland.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson, said: “In line with the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, we were required to serve a Dangerous Buildings Notice (DBN) on the former TA Building in Paisley to maintain public safety.
“The owners of the private building removed the façade support system last October and ignored several formal notices from the Council to reinstate it.
“The council was left with no choice but to then serve the DBN notice as the building is considered dangerous under Sections 29 and 30 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.”
They added: “The DBN set out two options for the owners of the site, namely to reinstate the façade retention system or carry out demolition works within 21 days. Unfortunately, the private owner has chosen to start demolition works rather than reinstate the façade support system – which was the council’s preference.”
JR Construction have been approached for comment