Plans have been approved for the extension of a community centre in Paisley.

The Star Project has been given permission to erect a single storey extension to the rear of a class 10 unit in Wallace Street including external alterations to the front, rear and side.

The community organisation, which was established in 1999, tackles poverty, deprivation and associated stigma through group, individual and community supports.

It currently operates from 12 Wallace Street which will be refurbished to meet the needs of the group, while the vacant adjoining building at 14 Wallace Street will be occupied by the organisation and extended to the rear.

It has been based there since 2006 but submitted the application amid a growing demand for the service which saw its needs grow to “exceed the current space available”.

The organisation said this has been particularly the case over the last three to four years and “an unprecedented increase in engagement figures due to Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.”

The work would see the two buildings amalgamated into one.

The front of the building would continue to be onto Wallace Street where new window and door openings would be formed.

The plans also proposed five new car parking spaces within the rear yard and a new cycle store.

The premises at 12 to 14 Wallace Street were originally a sausage factory with cold store and loading bay.

The currently occupied area of the building was then converted into local council offices before being occupied by the STAR Project.

The vacant spaces to the east of STAR Project premises were originally connected internally.

This unoccupied half of the building has changed little from its days as a cold store and loading bay for food production, however, most recently it was used as a mechanic’s workshop.

The building is currently owned by Ian Taylor, along with a number of other properties in the area, with the STAR Project possessing a long lease on their existing space.